After one of its hottest and driest summers, Southern California could remain abnormally warm and dry this winter as La Niña conditions develop, a cycle that can trigger irregular weather patterns worldwide.  La Niña tends to produce drier weather in Southern California and the Southwest during the winter, a critical time to replenish water resources. Drier vegetation can also worsen the risk of wildfires. Even if this La Niña is weaker, it could still have serious regional implications. Northern California may see a wetter-than-average weather this winter, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While seven of the 10 La Niña events this century resulted in dry years in California, research also suggests that even as the climate grows hotter and drier overall, the precipitation that California does receive will arrive in stronger storms, increasing the risk from flooding, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

Related drought articles:

• Courthouse News Service: After record hot summer, Arizona drought experts fear worsening conditions
• National Integrated Drought Information System: GPS for drought monitoring: Leveraging the power of satellites to quantify regional water deficits
• Western Water Assessment: Intermountain West climate dashboard