La Niña 1973-1974
La Niña 1973-1974 lasted about 16 months, from Apr–Jun 1973 to May–Jul 1974. The Oceanic Niño Index peaked at -2.0 °C in NDJ 1973, a very strong La Niña, ranked #1 of 20 since 1950.
What happened
One of the strongest La Niña events on record, right after the strong 1972-73 El Niño.
Impacts vary by region and event; see our country pages for the usual pattern.
ONI before, during and after La Niña 1973-1974
Season by season
| Season | Year | ONI | Niño 3.4 temp. |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMJ Apr–Jun | 1973 | -0.5 °C | 26.97 °C |
| MJJ May–Jul | 1973 | -0.8 °C | 26.51 °C |
| JJA Jun–Aug | 1973 | -1.0 °C | 25.99 °C |
| JAS Jul–Sep | 1973 | -1.1 °C | 25.54 °C |
| ASO Aug–Oct | 1973 | -1.3 °C | 25.23 °C |
| SON Sep–Nov | 1973 | -1.6 °C | 24.87 °C |
| OND Oct–Dec | 1973 | -1.9 °C | 24.57 °C |
| NDJ Nov–Jan | 1973 | -2.0 °C | 24.39 °C |
| DJF Dec–Feb | 1974 | -1.9 °C | 24.61 °C |
| JFM Jan–Mar | 1974 | -1.6 °C | 25.10 °C |
| FMA Feb–Apr | 1974 | -1.2 °C | 25.82 °C |
| MAM Mar–May | 1974 | -1.0 °C | 26.37 °C |
| AMJ Apr–Jun | 1974 | -0.7 °C | 26.77 °C |
| MJJ May–Jul | 1974 | -0.6 °C | 26.67 °C |
Compare with other episodes
← La Niña 1970-1972La Niña 1974-1976 →El Niño 1972-1973El Niño 2026 (current)
Frequently asked questions
When did La Niña 1973-1974 start and end?
It started in AMJ 1973 and ended in MJJ 1974, about 16 months.
How strong was La Niña 1973-1974?
Its peak ONI was -2.0 °C (NDJ 1973), classified as very strong. It ranks #1 among 20 La Niña episodes since 1950.
Episodes are computed from NOAA's Oceanic Niño Index (ERSSTv5) with the standard rule: five or more consecutive overlapping seasons at or beyond ±0.5 °C. Free to cite with a link to elninoforecast.com.