The La Niña climate pattern has taken hold of the U.S. ahead of the start of meteorological winter , which forecasters say typically spreads more snow across the Northern Tier of the U.S. and nasty conditions for the Northeast and New England.

La Niña is one of three climatological phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) that describe natural changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures and atmospheric circulation that can greatly influence global weather.

La Niña describes colder conditions, El Niño describes warmer conditions and ENSO neutral refers to a state where temperatures are close to average.

WHAT ARE EL NINO AND LA NINA CLIMATE PATTERNS?

• next Image 1 of 8 People walk in a street during a snowstorm. (Nail Fattakhov\TASS via Getty Images)

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