One such exception was last year, when an odd-ball La Niña event delivered a somewhat unexpected flavour to New Zealand – and became among four of 17 La Niña events measured since 1972 that failed to bring near or above normal rainfall for Auckland. This month, forecasters at the Climate Prediction Centre, with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), issued a "La Niña Watch". La Niña Watch issued with La Niña potentially emerging during the September-November season and lasting through the 2021-22 winter. Along with favouring more easterlies and northeasterlies, a negative IPO also came with a higher propensity for La Niña conditions, he said. If a La Niña did happen to form, she said it was too early to say what shape it might take.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 11, 2021 04:52 UTC