La Niña is Over as Neutral Phase Takes Over the Weather Patterns

La Niña, we hardly knew you. The natural climate pattern that has been in place since the beginning of 2025 is already officially over. Here is the latest on what is happening in the equatorial Pacific and how it may impact the weather in the months to come.

NOAA Declares the End of La Niña

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the climate phase known as La Niña is now in the rearview mirror. The cooler ocean waters around the equatorial Pacific that mark this phase did not kick into gear until late in 2024, reaching their lowest levels at the start of the new year. However, the temperatures only hovered at levels indicative of La Niña for a few short months.

NOAA said that at this point, neither La Niña nor its opposition phase El Niño, are present. This means that this corner of the world's ocean is now in what weather experts refer to as a neutral phase. This time of neutrality, where neither pattern is dominant, is forecast to last through the balance of the spring, the summer, and into the early part of the fall.

This is important as the presence of either La Niña or El Niño closely influences the overall weather patterns all around the world. Understanding what phase is in place helps meteorologists make long-range forecasts based on historical data.

Forecasters are careful to note that the end of La Nina does not necessarily mean that its impacts are completely gone. The effects of this climate phase will linger for some time, even if they are not significantly driving the overall weather. It is difficult for forecasters to determine how long and to what intensity the impacts of La Niña will persist.

For instance, it took months for the impacts of the last El Niño to stop guiding the weather patterns. Meteorologists blame this pattern on the record-warm temperatures all over the planet for the last two years.