A La Niña Watch has been issued by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center . But what does that mean for your weather?

La Niña develops when sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean remain cooler than average for an extended time. Its influence on weather in the United States is strongest in winter, shaping storm tracks and temperature patterns, but it also plays a major role in fueling tropical development during Atlantic hurricane season.

A La Niña Watch means that La Niña conditions are expected the next six months. While there will be some La Niña conditions from late autumn through midwinter, a La Niña is only officially declared after five consecutive months of negative sea surface temperatures.

La Niña vs. the U.S. Winter forecast

La Niña is only one of a handful of atm

See Full Page