There is also a 50 percent chance that the weaker form of La Niña will persist till February through April 2018. This means that in all likelyhood, 2018 might end up being a cooler year than 2017, which was largely influenced by the heat strain brought on by El Niño, becoming one of the top three warmest years, according to records dating back to 1880.
Nevertheless, due to the weak nature of La Niña, there is a chance that 2018 might set a new kind of record — being the warmest La Niña year on record. Global warming plays a vital role in muting the effects of La Niña this year. However, this does not mean that the mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions will receive less-than-expected amount of snowfall because of it.
What the heck did we do before satellites told us about the ocean temperatures?
Full story @ How La Niña Affects Winter 2017, Global Temperatures In 2018