La Niña 1998-2000
La Niña 1998-2000 lasted about 26 months, from Jun–Aug 1998 to May–Jul 2000. The Oceanic Niño Index peaked at -1.5 °C in NDJ 1999, a strong La Niña, ranked #7 of 20 since 1950.
What happened
A long, multi-year La Niña after the 1997-98 El Niño, lasting about two years.
Impacts vary by region and event; see our country pages for the usual pattern.
ONI before, during and after La Niña 1998-2000
Season by season
| Season | Year | ONI | Niño 3.4 temp. |
|---|---|---|---|
| JJA Jun–Aug | 1998 | -0.6 °C | 26.57 °C |
| JAS Jul–Sep | 1998 | -0.8 °C | 26.08 °C |
| ASO Aug–Oct | 1998 | -1.0 °C | 25.73 °C |
| SON Sep–Nov | 1998 | -1.1 °C | 25.56 °C |
| OND Oct–Dec | 1998 | -1.3 °C | 25.32 °C |
| NDJ Nov–Jan | 1998 | -1.5 °C | 25.12 °C |
| DJF Dec–Feb | 1999 | -1.5 °C | 25.12 °C |
| JFM Jan–Mar | 1999 | -1.3 °C | 25.60 °C |
| FMA Feb–Apr | 1999 | -0.9 °C | 26.31 °C |
| MAM Mar–May | 1999 | -0.8 °C | 26.80 °C |
| AMJ Apr–Jun | 1999 | -0.8 °C | 26.94 °C |
| MJJ May–Jul | 1999 | -0.8 °C | 26.70 °C |
| JJA Jun–Aug | 1999 | -0.9 °C | 26.30 °C |
| JAS Jul–Sep | 1999 | -0.9 °C | 25.97 °C |
| ASO Aug–Oct | 1999 | -1.0 °C | 25.75 °C |
| SON Sep–Nov | 1999 | -1.1 °C | 25.55 °C |
| OND Oct–Dec | 1999 | -1.4 °C | 25.27 °C |
| NDJ Nov–Jan | 1999 | -1.5 °C | 25.06 °C |
| DJF Dec–Feb | 2000 | -1.5 °C | 25.17 °C |
| JFM Jan–Mar | 2000 | -1.3 °C | 25.59 °C |
| FMA Feb–Apr | 2000 | -1.0 °C | 26.26 °C |
| MAM Mar–May | 2000 | -0.8 °C | 26.79 °C |
| AMJ Apr–Jun | 2000 | -0.7 °C | 27.06 °C |
| MJJ May–Jul | 2000 | -0.6 °C | 26.92 °C |
Compare with other episodes
← La Niña 1995-1996La Niña 2000-2001 →El Niño 1997-1998El Niño 2026 (current)
Frequently asked questions
When did La Niña 1998-2000 start and end?
It started in JJA 1998 and ended in MJJ 2000, about 26 months.
How strong was La Niña 1998-2000?
Its peak ONI was -1.5 °C (NDJ 1999), classified as strong. It ranks #7 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.