Japan weather bureau says 40% chance of La Nina emerging in autumn

Japan's weather bureau said on Thursday that normal weather patterns are continuing and that there was a 40% chance of the La Nina phenomenon emerging in the Northern Hemisphere autumn.

There was a greater, 60% chance of normal weather patterns continuing, it said.

A La Nina weather event is characterised by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean region and is also linked to floods and drought.