| Strong La Nina | |
|---|---|
| Duration | July 2016 — May 2018 |
| Peak Intensity | -1.6 C |
The 2016-2018 La Nina event was a major cooling of the Pacific Ocean between June 2016 and May 2018. It featured two years of moderate to strong La Nina conditions. It also resulted in two back-to-back well above normal Atlantic hurricane seasons.
Background[]
In February 2016, NOAA said that development of La Nina was possible, as a very strong El Nino event began to rapidly dissipate. By May, El Nino had become very weak. In June, El Nino officially dissipated as sea-surface anomalies became -0.1 C. In July, signs of a La Nina became evident, as the anamolies had dropped to -0.5 C.
This La Nina resulted in the warmest and driest February on record for 2017 throughout most of the Southeastern United States. It also resulted in very hot and dry summers of 2016 and 2017.