The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is reporting that La Nina, which contributed to extreme weather in the beginning of 2011 is back. NOAA recorded the re-emergence of La Nina and are predicting that it will strengthen and continue into the winter months. La Nina is basically a period of strong trade winds that increases cold up-welling currents off the western coast of South America. So what does this mean for those of us who live in Texas? This event occurs in South America. How could it possibly effect us? La Nina is actually a huge factor in global weather. La Nina causes heavy rainfall in the tropics, drought in the north-temperate regions, and it increases hurricane activity in the North Atlantic. This means that we will be seeing more drought in the coming months, and a potentially large hurricane season.