Short-Lived La Niña Expected Early 2026 with Limited Impact

Multiple meteorological agencies forecast a short-lived La Niña event to develop around late 2025 to early 2026, influencing global and regional weather patterns. Malaysia's Meteorological Department predicts a brief La Niña in early 2026, affecting rainfall distribution before conditions stabilize, with ongoing dry weather due to the Southwest Monsoon. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center also indicates a 71 percent chance of La Niña between October and December 2025, tapering to 54 percent by early 2026, which could impact winter storm patterns across the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. New Zealand is expected to experience stormy weather in September, with a shift to drier, warmer conditions as La Niña takes hold in October, though outcomes depend on the positioning of high-pressure systems. Additionally, a potential weak La Niña could influence Atlantic hurricane activity, possibly increasing storm frequency and intensity similar to past transition years like 2000, 2016, and 2017. Overall, forecasts suggest wetter than normal conditions in some regions alongside variable temperature trends amid the La Niña event.