El Niño has officially ended and ENSO-neutral conditions returned over the past month, as near- to below-average sea surface temperatures expanded across the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center (CPC). The government weather forecaster says there are 65% odds La Niña will develop during July-September and 85% chances it will persist through the Northern Hemisphere winter. La Niña patterns tend to produce hotter conditions across the central and eastern United States. A more northerly jet stream can also block moisture from moving into the western Corn Belt.
The slightly delayed La Niña onset might reduce the hurricane season’s hyperactivity during its peak period, mid-August to September. Despite this, other factors still suggest an active hurricane season.
