The World Meteorological Association says the La Nina weather pattern will last through the end of 2022.
That’s the first time this century it will have lasted for three consecutive winters in the northern hemisphere.
La Nina conditions in the tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean strengthened as trade winds intensified between July and August.
The conditions are affecting temperatures and precipitation patterns and making drought conditions and flooding in different parts of the world that much worse.
The current WMO forecast shows the current La Nina, which began in September 2020 and continuing during the next six months.
La Nina refers to the cooling of ocean surface temperatures coupled with winds and rainfall.
It almost always has the opposite effect of El Nino, which is the warm phase of the so-called El Nino Southern Oscillation.
The WMO says it is “exceptional” to have three consecutive years with a La Nina weather pattern.
