Though Providing Relief to Some, Western Moisture Spreading

CAMP SPRINGS. MD – Across the West, moisture is spreading inland across northern and central California in what is the start of a stormy spell that could result in as much as 9 feet of snow in a few days. At the same time, a broader area of the West, extending to the western slopes of the Rockies, is receiving some rain and snow.

With 93 percent of the 11-state Western region experiencing drought, the storms should provide some relief.

“Even though it’s drought relief it’s not drought relief everywhere” says USDA Chief Meteorologist Mark Brusberg. “I’m sure that the folks out west would have liked to have seen alot of this moisture stretched out over a longer period of time”.

According to the Climate Prediction Center, the temperature outlook for the next 90 days will favor above-normal temperatures for the south-central and eastern states, as well as the Gulf Coast and parts of New England. On the other hand, below-normal temperature are expected for the northern High Plains, northern Rockies, Pacific Northwest, northern California, and most of Alaska.

The precipitation outlook favors below-normal amounts from southern California and the Southwest east to the southern Great Plains along with parts of the Southeast, while above-normal amounts may affect the Great Lakes, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, northern Rockies, Pacific Northwest, and western Mainland Alaska.

The reason for the current trend is La Niña conditions across the equatorial Pacific Ocean, says climitalogist Brad Pugh who adds that the “forecast indicates that La Niña conditions are likely to persist through the winter and early spring.” Pugh explains that the “influence of La Niña continued to play a major role in the temperature and precipitation outlooks” through the first four months of 2022.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)