What it is:

La Niña (little girl in Spanish) sometimes called El Viejo (the old man in Spanish), anti-El
Niño, or "a cold event" because the local effects on weather caused by La Niña are the
opposite of those associated with El Niño ("little boy" in Spanish). La Niña is associated with
widespread changes in weather patterns. The colder water near the South American coast
causes the lack of moisture in the air which restricts cloud formation in the area leading to
dry weather conditions in western South America and southern parts of the United States
during La Niña years.

When it occurs:
It occurs on average every 3 – 5 years and sometimes follow El Niño events.

Where it occurs:
It occurs in the Pacific Ocean.