La Niña has emerged: What does it mean for N.Y. winter weather?

After months of forecasts predicting a return, La Niña conditions emerged in September. But what does this mean for winter weather in New York?

To understand the impact, one must first understand what La Niña actually is.

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle, otherwise known as the ENSO cycle, is a recurring climate pattern pertaining to changes in the water temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, according to the National Weather Service .

Over time, the sea surface temperatures tend to either warm up or cool down. This is what the weather service refers to as the ENSO cycle.

Cycle-neutral conditions are present when water temperatures are normal, neither below nor above-average. In this stage, seasonal conditions typically prevail and the phenomenon doesn’