Weather Outlook Pt 2

From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. The past couple of years have brought us plenty of challenges, among them a few weather extremes and three straight years of La Nina, which is also unusual.

University of Washington Atmospheric Science professor, Cliff Mass says La Nina is beginning to fade away, but it’s not gone yet which should be good for our water supply …

MASS … “That means we’re going to go into the summer with a snowpack that’s at least normal, maybe slightly above normal. So, you know, I mean the snowpack will be good and so the water situation will be fine.”

As it turns out, Mass says, what’s good for the Northwest could also be good for our neighbors in California …

MASS … “They’re going to get a lot of snow out of the situation. Because when we get cold it pushes the jet stream down to California. So, they’re going to get it. They’re going to get more water and this time of year it’s particularly valuable, into February, you know, it’s getting late season for them, so they’re going to get it. So, that’s great!”

Recent California storms, Mass says have helped their water supply already …

MASS … “So, their reservoirs system now is going to be fine because not only did they get a major fill-up, but this snowpack is huge still down there in California. And so, that’s all going to melt and that water is going to go in the reservoirs.”

As for weather extremes, Mass says while the “heat dome” in June of 21 was unusual, there are always weather “extremes.”

But for now, we watch as our La Nina fades and a bit warmer and drier El Nino joins us in the fall.