A La Niña Watch has been issued for California, signaling the possible return of the weather pattern. The conditions are expected to develop late this fall and winter but are likely to be short-lived. Forecasters predict average to below-average rainfall for Southern California this winter as a result.

For the second year in a row, California is expected to experience a La Niña weather pattern, potentially bringing some rain for far northern regions.

La Niña is defined by cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific along the equator. The ocean waters affect atmospheric activity, tilting the odds toward drier than normal conditions in Southern California and wetter than average conditions to the far north, especially in the winter.