02/06/08 Forecaster sees good crop weather for PNW

Farm and Ranch February 6, 2008 A La Nina weather pattern has brought plenty of moisture to the Pacific Northwest this winter and colder than usual water temperatures off shore and in the Gulf of Alaska have meant much of that precipitation has come in the form of snow. Dr. Art Douglas, emeritus professor of atmospheric sciences at Creighton University told the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum in Spokane this week the La Nina pattern will continue for the next couple of months. That cold water will also continue to have an impact. Douglas: "Eventually spring storms aren't going to have as much moisture just because of that cold water. Cold water causes the air to be chilled and consequently there is less moisture in the atmosphere. So I think what we will see is a gradual decrease in the amount of precipitation this spring to about near normal levels, to maybe even slightly below normal levels, by May and June." Douglas does not expect any artic cold outbreaks for the region the remainder of the winter. As for this coming summer, Douglas says most of the Pacific Northwest should have a dry, hot summer but he is not worried. Douglas: "Base on the moisture we have had to date and at least normal precipitation through April, things are going to be in pretty good shape in the Pacific Northwest. The other nice thing about it, with the moisture and it started early this year, crop wise the winter wheat is in really great shape and as we go into summer with that warmer, drier weather it is going to be ideal for harvest." Elsewhere in the U.S. Douglas sees good spring moisture for most of the corn belt but perhaps some heat and dryness in the northern Plains. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.