08/22/08 No La Nina; no El Nino

Washington Ag August 22, 2008 The Climate Prediction Center recently issued a revised forecast on global weather patterns. Rippey: "That is indicating that we are expecting neither El Nino or La Nina during the next several months." That is Brad Rippey, USDA meteorologist, who says this neutral condition actual makes forecasting more difficult. Rippey: "With the neutral conditions expected to continue into the fall months that really doesn't give us anything to hang our hat on as far as forecasts go. We are going to have to look at other factors for what is going to influence the weather this fall, winter and perhaps next spring." Earlier this week the Office of the Washington State Climatologist said a neutral condition suggests an increased probability of below normal temperatures in western Washington, while in eastern Washington there is an equal chance for above or below normal temperatures through October. The outlook says precipitation conditions are not likely to improve in eastern Washington. It calls for a greater than 33 percent chance that precipitation will be below normal in central Washington and a greater than 40 percent chance of below normal precipitation further east. Before this week's rains topsoil moisture in the state was only 31 percent adequate. The five year average for now is 40 percent adequate. I'm Bob Hoff.