It could be a La Niña winter
Thursday August 19, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

So, what exactly is La Nina?

It is where the Pacific Ocean cools and though it doesn't cause the overall winter temperature to drop it does seem to produce more precipitation and therefore more snow.

It usually means more snow at the end of the winter than the beginning and has been the apparent cause of some record-breaking powder dumps in the past.

The National Climate Prediction Centre has said this month that La Niña conditions are developing in the part of the Pacific Ocean near the equator and east of the International Date Line.

The temperature of the water is below average and the forecasters say La Niña is likely to carry on into the winter months.

National Climate Centre information reveals that La Niña winters start off mild and dry, but then become colder and snowier as the winter develops.

La Niñas are part of the cycle of Pacific Ocean  temperatures, while the opposite phenomenon, El Niño, produces warmer temperatures in the ocean.

Last winter was an El Niño winter.

Skiers, snowboarders, resorts, weather forecasters and, of course, the media seem to be getting excited about it over in the parts of North America that are affected.

It does though have another side to it bringing storms and damage. It also has a big impact on agriculture and can push up global prices of basic foods.

The last full La Niña was a decade ago, though there have been minor ones.

Here at PlanetSKI we'll keep our fingers crossed for the skiers and snowboarders and let you know how things shape up.

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