La Nina is officially back and that has many people wondering what summer will be like. In a nutshell, we’re already experiencing some of the La Nina-type weather, ie more cloud and rain for many areas but also a lack of big southerlies this spring (although spring isn’t yet over!).

Every La Nina is different – remember we just last summer had the opposite to this, El Nino. Back then global scientists (not the media, but scientists) dubbed it a “Godzilla El Nino”. But, for New Zealand, it wasn’t too harsh with the exception of Canterbury.

New Zealand – being comprised mainly of two mountainous islands smack bang in the roaring 40s and the Pacific Ocean – is more exposed to bucking the trend and being out on a limb. The latest forecast for La Nina is that this will be a “weak” one – we’ll see how it pans out over the months ahead…

What does La Nina mean for New Zealand? Click here for more details.