Hey weather watchers! 🌊❄️ China slipped into a La Niña state in October, according to the National Climate Center. But don’t get your snow boots out just yet – a double La Niña this winter is still a long shot. 🤔
So, what exactly is a La Niña state? It happens when sea surface temperatures in a key part of the Pacific (tracked by the Nino 3.4 index) dip below -0.5°C. That’s the “state” threshold. To be an official La Niña “event,” the index needs to stay below that mark for at least five straight months. 🧊
Earlier in 2025, we already saw a weak La Niña event. That chill in the subsurface waters kept building, setting the stage for a possible comeback toward the end of the year.
La Niña usually shows up every two to seven years, but experts at the Zhejiang Provincial Climate Center note that global warming’s complex effects are nudging these cycles to happen more often.
All this buzz sparked talk of a “double La Niña” – meaning La Niña events in two back-to-back winters. Cool name, but the National Climate Center’s latest forecast says the odds of that happening this winter are still low.
Bottom line: We’re in a La Niña state now, but don’t count on a double freeze this winter. Stay tuned as meteorologists keep an eye on that Nino 3.4 index and share updates! ❄️✨
Reference(s):
China enters La Nina state, but 'double La Nina' unlikely this winter
cgtn.com
