From the Capital Press – The surface of the Pacific Ocean along the equator is cooling and likely will continue to cool, triggering a La Nina this summer that will stay through the winter, the National Weather Service predicted Thursday. Sea-surface temperatures have been above average for almost a year, but will drop this month to near normal, ending a strong El Nino that peaked in December, according to the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center. There is a 69% chance that between July and September seas will be cool enough for a La Nina. La Nina winters are generally cooler and wetter in the Pacific Northwest and good for irrigators. Some stretches of the Pacific Ocean already are cooler than normal. La Ninas tends to follow strong El Ninos, adding confidence to the forecast, according to the climate center. (more)