Agency: Moderate to strong La Nina this year

BERLIN » The La Nina climate phenomenon has developed and is expected to last into next year, affecting temperatures, precipitation and storm patterns across the world, the U.N. weather agency saidThursday. A La Nina usuallymeans a more active Atlantic hurricane season, with more and perhaps stronger storms. TheWorldMeteorological Organization in Geneva said La Nina, characterized by abnormally cold sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean, is “expected to be moderate to strong” this year. The global declaration of a La Nina event is used by governments to help plan responses in vulnerable sectors like agriculture, health, water resources and disaster management.