As we wrap up the year, Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays reached out to Bryce Anderson, DTN ag meteorologist, to get a feel for what weather patterns we can expect to see as we transition into the new year. Anderson says he expects the dry conditions we’ve experience in this part of the country as of late will continue throughout the winter.
“Right now, most of the Southern Plains has had only between 10-50 percent the normal precips since the first of October when the water year begins,” Anderson said. “For the balance of the season, I think we’re going to have a little bit of a problem in terms of bringing in much moisture into the region.”
According to Anderson, the storms systems that have developed off a rather neutral Pacific, have simply been moving too fast to actually draw enough moisture in to create any beneficial rains.
“We’ve had a ripple effect from a weak La Nina that formed in the Pacific,” Anderson said. “That sort of set the stage for the air currents to get in the way of moisture to form over the Southern Plains.”
Most people expected a strong La Nina to come into play after we came off what was a fairly strong El Nino. This simply has not happened. But it has happened before says Anderson.
Click here to see more...