NOAA Confirms End of La Niña, Enters Neutral Climate Phase

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has declared the end of La Niña, which lasted only three months, transitioning to ENSO-neutral conditions characterized by average water temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific. This neutral phase is expected to persist through the summer and potentially into fall 2025, complicating long-term weather forecasts as the influences of La Niña and El Niño are absent. La Niña typically brings drier conditions to the southern and western U.S. while increasing hurricane activity, but these impacts will not be a factor this year. Forecasters have noted that predictions during spring are less reliable due to the so-called 'spring predictability barrier.' As a result, the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season may see more unpredictability without the guiding influence of these climate patterns. Climatologists continue to monitor ocean temperatures and atmospheric conditions for further developments.