Posted: May 3, 2012 12:33 PM Updated: May 3, 2012 12:33 PM
Source: Associated Press WASHINGTON - The La Nina weather
phenomenon is over. Forecasters say that's good news for the
drought in the South and hurricane areas along the coasts. The
National Weather Service pronounced the two-year La Nina
finished on Thursday. La Nina is the flip side of El Nino and is
caused by the cooling of the central Pacific Ocean. La Nina's
greatest effects are in the winter, usually triggering drought
in the U.S. South and more rain further north. It also often
means more hurricane activity in the Atlantic during the summer.
Global temperatures are cooler during La Ninas, especially in
the tropics Meteorologists reported some drought relief in Texas
earlier this year. But recently drought conditions intensified
again in parts of Texas and much of the Southeast.