Weak La Nina event likely to develop in 2007: WMO

[jpak]

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL2018955520070720

GENEVA (Reuters) - La Nina, the cooling of sea surfaces in the Pacific Ocean which can wreak havoc with weather patterns, is likely to develop by the end of the year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday.

In its latest update on ocean temperatures, the United Nations weather agency also said it was "very unlikely" that an El Nino event, where Pacific water become abnormally warm, would occur in the rest of 2007.

WMO expert Rupa Kumar said a typical La Nina lasts nine to 12 months, and that Pacific cooling has been unsteady to date.

"We are now in the development phase and it is likely to peak around the (northern) winter season," Kolli told a news briefing. "But it is likely (to be) a weak event rather than a strong event."

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[hedgehog]

1. I can never remember what happens in my area with La Nina, Lo

Nino or even when things are "normal"!

[sandnsea]

2. Whatever's happening now, it's miserable

More humidity than I remember. It's clearly not normal here now, and none of the weather people seem to notice, let along tell us why it's like this.