A weak La Niña phenomenon is likely to influence global weather conditions over the next three months, according to the forecast released today by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Although the effects of La Niña usually mean a temporary cooling in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, temperatures in many regions are expected to be higher than normal—raising the likelihood of floods and droughts and implying consequences for crops, the WMO says.

The probability of a weak La Niña forming from this month through February is 55%. In mid-November 2025, oceanic and atmospheric indicators showed borderline La Niña conditions, according to the WMO.

The chances for neutral conditions from January to March and from February to April are 65% and 75%, respectively.

The Organization predicts that an El Niño event—the meteorological phenomenon that fuels tropical cyclones in the Pacific and intensifies rainfall and flood risks across parts of the Americas and elsewhere—is unlikely to occur.

Seasonal weather forecasts and the influence of weather patterns translate into savings of hundreds of millions for agriculture, energy, health, and transportation, the World Meteorological Organization notes, while thousands of lives can be saved with proper preparation to handle such phenomena.