These images show that the central and eastern Pacific Ocean was unusually cold in December 2010, a tell-tale sign of La Niña. The associated rainfall map shows that La Niña was impacting weather in parts of the globe.
Published Dec 24, 2010
These color-coded images show the strengthening of El Niño between October and November 2009. In the November image, warm waters (indicated in red) have spread across the Pacific.
Published Dec 11, 2009
La Niña, the large area of cold water in the Pacific Ocean widely blamed for last summer's drought and often related to an increase in the number of hurricanes that make landfall, appears to be on its last legs.
Published May 10, 2000
Acquired September 6, 2010, this map shows cooling in the central Pacific Ocean consistent with La Niña conditions.
Published Sep 19, 2010
After appearing for two consecutive winters, La Niña appears to be taking some time off.
Published May 4, 2012
Ocean conditions are not likely to help drought-stressed regions this spring. However, some broader changes might be coming in the Pacific.
Published Mar 25, 2015
The near-record water temperatures of 2015-16 has been followed by a modest, quiet appearance of La Niña.
Published Jan 6, 2017
Past events suggest the phenomenon winds down after December and January. But will this year follow the pattern?
Published Jan 22, 2016
Cooler than normal conditions prevail in the central and eastern Pacific, but the event is so far considered weak.
Published Dec 22, 2017
Weakening trade winds are allowing warm water to move east across the Pacific in a telltale pattern.
Published Aug 5, 2015
A trio of globes of sea surface height anomalies shows a deep pulse of warm water—a Kelvin wave—crossing the Pacific Ocean in February 2010. Kelvin waves strengthen and maintain El Niño episodes.
Published Mar 21, 2010
With each passing month, 2015 looks more and more like 1997.
Published Oct 13, 2015
