La Niña continues: and what it means for you
Ocean temperatures in the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean continue to create a La Niña condition, according to the National Weather Service's March, 2012 update. This means that for the next two months, we can expect the following:
- above average air temperatures across the mid section (south central) of the U.S.
- below average temperatures over the northwestern U.S.
- above average rain across western Washington, the Ohio Valley and the lower Great Lakes
- drier than average conditions across Florida, the Gulf Coast and the southwestern U.S. (this forecast is unfortunately still accurate, despite this week's Western storm; the storm will help, but will not make up for the very dry winter season)
La Niña usually dissipates during the spring, so the trends above will probably hold no longer than through the end of April.
