La Niña is here, American climate experts say

La Niña has finally arrived and, although weak, is expected to prevail until at least the end of 2016, according to American climate experts.

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), said the climatic phenomenon—which brings above-average rainfall in countries like the Philippines—is expected to dissipate within the first quarter of 2017.

“La Niña conditions persisted during November, with negative sea surface temperature anomalies present across most of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific,” the Noaa said in a public notice.

The agency was referring to cooler-than-average temperature readings on the Pacific Ocean’s surface.

“Given the current conditions and the model forecasts, the forecaster consensus also favors the continuation of weak La Niña conditions through [December to February],” the agency said.

Meanwhile, food production forecast in November suggests the likelihood that global as well as Philippine agricultural output would continue to expand.