La Niña Effects? National Weather Service Predicts 2017 Winter Climate

The National Weather Service has released its first winter weather predictions for the approaching season in the United States. But if the wildcard La Niña develops, it might shake some things up. The chances that it will develop are strong too, observations as well as computer models suggest that La Niña is likely to develop. If it does develop, Mike Halpert, the deputy director of the Climate prediction Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that it will be "weak and potentially short-lived." Colder than normal conditions in the Pacific Ocean near the equator is what is commonly referred to as La Niña.