LA NIÑA IS ON THE WAY The 1997- ‘98 El Niño was one of the most significant climatic events of the century. As it finally disperses, La Niña conditions are now developing. La Niña features colder than normal sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean. There was a rapid cooling of sea surface temperatures in sections of the equatorial Pacific during May. The cooling trend is likely to continue with the development of La Niña conditions during the next three to six months. It is expected that La Niña will be impacting weather patterns around the globe this fall and into next winter. NOAA works closely with the academic and science communities on climate-related research projects to increase the understanding of climate variations, such as El Niño and La Niña, and improve forecasting techniques. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center monitors, analyzes and predicts climate events ranging from weeks to seasons for the nation. NOAA also operates the network of data buoys and satellites that provide vital information about the ocean waters, and initiates research projects to improve future climate forecasts. The long-lead climate outlooks are available on the Internet at: http://nic.fb4.noaa.gov For further information on La Niña, please visit our Web site at http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/lanina.html or contact Stephanie Kenitzer at 301-763-8000, ext. 7007.

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