Here’s a concise update on the latest thinking around El Niño and La Niña.
What’s current
- The global ENSO pattern has been shifting from El Niño toward La Niña or neutral conditions in recent periods, with forecasts commonly describing increased odds of La Niña (or near-neutral) during the coming months depending on the region and time window.[3][7]
- Several authoritative sources note that the exceptionally strong El Niño of 2023/24 has ended, and forecast updates have shown mounting probability of La Niña in mid-to-late 2024 and into 2025, though actual outcomes varied by region and model, with some updates emphasizing only a weak La Niña or a return to neutral conditions.[4][5][3]
- The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has published updates indicating a likely swing toward La Niña later in the year, with probabilities often quoted around the 50–70% range for entering La Niña or neutral conditions during mid-to-late year 2024 in many ensembles, though strengths and durations remain uncertain.[8][9][3]
Regional and global implications
- Global temperatures and extreme-weather risk can be affected by ENSO phase: El Niño tends to raise global average temperatures and increase certain weather extremes, while La Niña tends to have a cooling influence on global averages but can still feature regional warmth or dryness in some areas.[5][3]
- NOAA/NOAA-affiliated climate centers and other meteorological bodies regularly update forecasts as new ocean-atmosphere data come in, so expect periodic revisions to the balance between El Niño, neutral, and La Niña conditions through 2026 as the Pacific evolves.[5][8]
What to watch next
- Look for quarterly ENSO updates from WMO/IRI and NOAA, which typically summarize the likelihood of El Niño, La Niña, or neutral conditions and offer anticipated impacts for the coming seasons.[8][5]
- For a quick read, major outlets often synthesize these updates into headlines like “El Niño is over; La Niña likely” or “La Niña returns later this year,” but regional forecasts can diverge, so check local forecasts if you’re planning agriculture, water resources, or disaster risk actions.[10][3]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent official ENSO update summaries and provide a concise region-by-region interpretation for your area (New York City and surrounding regions, or any other location you specify) with direct citations.
Sources
The WMO El Niño/La Niña Update is prepared approximately every three months through a collaborative effort between WMO and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) as a contribution to the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Natural Disaster Reduction. It is based on contributions from the leading centres around the world monitoring and predicting this phenomenon and expert consensus facilitated by WMO and IRI.More on El Niño / La Niña Monitoring and...
wmo.intThe strong 2023-24 El Niño is over. Based on past events, does a strong El Niño portend a strong La Niña? Maybe, but it's complicated.
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www.weather.govGeneva (WMO) – There is a 55% chance of a weak La Niña impacting weather and climate patterns during the next three months, according to the latest Update from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Even though La Niña has a temporary cooling influence on global average temperatures, many regions are still expected to be warmer than normal.
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www.cnn.comThe 2023/24 El Niño event, which helped fuel a spike in global temperatures and extreme weather around the world, is now showing signs of ending. There is likely to be a swing back to La Niña conditions later this year, according to a new Update from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The 2023/24 El Niño event is now showing signs of ending. WMO Update predicts at least 60% chance of La Niña during July-September Average global sea surface temperatures remain exceptionally high...
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