"La Niña Weather Pattern Likely to Prolong Western Drought, NOAA Says"

"The climate pattern may also bring some relief to Northern California and the Pacific Northwest this winter."

"For the second year in a row, the climate pattern known as La Niña has developed in the Pacific Ocean, which will likely prolong the severe drought in much of the Western United States this winter while bringing some relief to Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, government forecasters said Thursday.

In La Niña, lower than normal sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific lead to changes in the jet stream, a high altitude river of winds that can affect weather elsewhere in the world.

Over North America, La Niña usually, although not always, shifts the jet stream to the north, bringing more storms to that part of the continent and fewer to the south."

Henry Fountain reports for the New York Times October 21, 2021.

SEE ALSO:

"Forecasters Predict Warmer Winter For Two-Thirds of US" (AP)

Source: NYTimes, 10/22/2021