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La Niña: Early warning – early action analysis for a potential La Niña in 2016 – 2017 Revised edition (August 2016) Update #2

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What is La Niña?

La Niña is the cooling of sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific, which occurs roughly every three to five years, lasting from six to 24 months. On average, half of El Niño events are followed by a La Niña, which typically affects global climate patterns in the opposite way El Niño does. The intensity of the La Niña climatic phenomenon generally peaks between October and January

Purpose of this report

The aim of this report is to:
(a) consolidate information on La Niña’s potential impacts on agriculture and food security, specifically in the regions which are now dealing with the consequences of El Niño; and
(b) provide early action recommendations in the agriculture sector to either reap the beneficial outcomes of La Niña, or prevent, mitigate and prepare for its negative effects.

What is the current forecast for La Niña?

Current forecasts indicate that the onset of a La Niña episode may start between August and October 2016 and there is a 55 to 60 percent chance that it would persist until the beginning of 2017.The timing of a La Niña onset is key to determine how its consequences will impact on agriculture.

What are the main consequences of La Niña for agriculture and food security?

A La Niña phenomena generally affects the same regions that are impacted by El Niño, with opposite climatic consequences. Areas which experienced dry conditions (below-average rainfall and/or increased temperature) during El Niño, for instance, tend to receive above-average rainfall and in some cases cooler temperatures.

While the climatic phenomenon usually peaks in intensity between October and January, changes to climatic patterns and their related impacts on food security and agriculture can happen both before and after the peak. It is possible that La Niña could develop as early as August, in which case it might already start affecting the growing seasons in some parts of the world from September 2016.

The consequences of La Niña on agriculture and food security can be both positive and negative. The positive effects derive from the increased likelihood of above-average rainfall which could improve pasture and crop yields. At the same time, if the above-average rainfall results in flooding, then clearly the results may be negative as in this case there is an increased incidence of seeds being washed away, landslides, crops destroyed and livestock morbidity and mortality. Since La Niña would most likely impact regions that have already been affected by El Niño, the food security situation could further deteriorate and protract into 2018. In the event of a “positive” La Niña, it is important to highlight that the actual full effect of above-average rainfall will not be felt until the next harvest – i.e. the end of 2016 (if La Niña comes early) or by mid-2017 (if La Niña occurs later).