La Niña

American  

[lah nee-nyah] / lɑ ˈni nyɑ /

noun

1. a cool ocean current that develops off the coast of Ecuador and Peru, sometimes following an El Niño but causing nearly the opposite extreme weather conditions.

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La Niña British  

/ læ ˈniːnjə /

noun

1. meteorol a cooling of the eastern tropical Pacific, occurring in certain years

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La Niña Scientific  

/ länēn′yä /

1. A cooling of the surface water of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, occurring somewhat less frequently than El Niño events but causing similar, generally opposite disruptions to global weather patterns. La Niña conditions occur when the Pacific trade winds blow more strongly than usual, pushing the sun-warmed surface water farther west and increasing the upwelling of cold water in the eastern regions. Together with the atmospheric effects of the related southern oscillation, the cooler water brings drought to western South America and heavy rains to eastern Australia and Indonesia.

2. Compare El Niño

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Etymology

Origin of La Niña

First recorded in 1985–90; from Spanish: literally, “the female child”; patterned after El Niño ( def. )

Example Sentences

WMO scientific officer John Kennedy said global weather is still under the influence of La Nina, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that cools surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

From Barron's

Conditions oscillate between La Nina and its warming opposite El Nino, with neutral conditions in between.

From Barron's

A temporary cooling from the natural La Niña weather pattern meant that 2025 was not quite as hot as 2024, which was boosted by the opposite El Niño phase.

From BBC

El Niño and La Niña are among the most important natural weather patterns on Earth, and can affect temperatures and rainfall around the world.

From BBC

La Niña conditions are present at the moment, according to US science agency Noaa, but El Niño is expected to develop later in 2026.

From BBC