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La Nina is characterized by unusually cold sea surface temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. The effects of La Nina is even felt in the United States, as are the effects of El Nino. La Nina is the opposite of El Nino, which is characterized by unusually warm sea surface temperatures. Since air masses take on the characteristics of the water below them, La Nina and El Nino impact weather patterns all over the globe. What Weather Patterns are associated with La Nina in the Southeast? La Nina phases are associated with warm, dry winters in the Southeastern United States. These weather patterns are opposite to those associated with El Nino. The dry conditions are already being noticed across the Southeast.

1. In the chart above, what do you notice about the precipitation amounts during La Nina events vs. the "Normal"? Is there more or less precipitation during La Nina Years?

2. Which month received the least precipitation during the 1903-1904 La Nina phase?

3. What is the Normal Precipitation for the Southeast during December, January and February?

4. During which La Nina phase did the least amount of precipitation fall in the Southeast?

5. Which of the five months has the lowest Normal precipitation?

Answer The following questions from the chart below:

6. Judging from the chart above, would you say that La Nina years are warmer or cooler than Normal?

7. During what months are these temperature differences the largest?

8. The January Southeast Average temperature was over 10 degrees above normal during what La Nina phase?

Answer the following questions from the map below:

9. Is the October, 1998 precipitation above or below Normal?

10. What is the deviation from Normal precipitation where you live?

11. Have you noticed this difference in rainfall before looking at this map? How?

12. Does this map display what you have learned about La Nina impacts on the Southeast US?

sercc@dnr.state.sc.us