Get ready for a third year of La Niña and drought in California. Scientists at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration reported in early September a 91% chance that La Niña will continue through November, and an 80% chance that it will continue through January.
La Niña occurs when Pacific Ocean surface water along the equator is cooler than average and alters the jet stream and winter storm tracks around the world. Last winter, La Niña produced one of the driest January through March periods ever recorded in California.
Read NOAA’s September 8 Report
Photo: August 2022 water levels at Lake Oroville, the water supply for the State Water Project. (Source: State of California)