Areas of Iowa that have suffered through months of drought may see some relief soon with the development of an El Nino weather pattern, as the Climate Prediction Center has issued an El Nino Watch for this summer.
Doug Kluck, the Central Region climate service director for the National Weather Service, says the El Nino would come after three years of a La Nina…(audio clip below :22 )
An El Nino occurs when Pacific Ocean surface temperatures rise above normal, and for Iowa, it typically means moderate temperatures and better chances for precipitation. Kluck says weather patterns change under an El Nino…(audio clip below :19 )
Kluck says the El Nino is expected to develop rapidly this summer.
According to the latest Iowa Drought Monitor, the amount of the state that’s at least extremely dry is nine-percent higher than last week. Drought percentages are nearly the same, with all of Buena Vista and portions of surrounding counties affected by Severe Drought. The two worst levels of drought, which are Extreme and Exceptional, are impacting parts of Woodbury and Monona counties.
(thanks to Radio Iowa and WNAX/Jerry Oster for contributing)
