El Niño/La Niña Update (May 2012)

The 2011-2012 La Niña has ended. La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific transitioned to 

neutral (neither El Niño nor La Niña) conditions in early April 2012. Model forecasts and 

expert opinion suggest that neutral conditions are likely to continue into the Northern 

Hemisphere summer (austral winter). For the second half of 2012 a return of La Niña is 

unlikely, while neutral or El Niño conditions are currently considered to have equal chances 

of occurring. National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and other agencies will 

continue to monitor Pacific Basin conditions and outlooks to assess the most likely state of 

the climate during 2012.