10/24/06 El Nino forms, now what?

The experts keep watching the ocean in the eastern Pacific off South America. That's where a pool of warm ocean water is building and we call it El Nino. The Climate Prediction Center says typical El Nino effects are likely to develop over North America during the coming winter season and that will impact Idaho. RIPPEY "Some of the dry areas of the Northwest are expected to rain dry with the El Nino scenario. They're in the middle of that split with storms heading both north and south of the Pacific Northwest." That's USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. He says El Nino could affect the winter wheat crop. RIPPEY "Some of the dry areas of the Northwest that could be an impact on winter grains there. Mild weather in the upper Midwest normally means a relative minimum of snow cover in those areas. That can also have an impact on the winter grain crop. A lot of times we don't see a whole lot of snow cover and it leaves the crop exposed to potential weather extremes." Warmer and drier in Idaho with a split storm track. Do any parts of the US benefit from this condition? RIPPEY "They did have a very good summer wet season in the Southwest and I would expect to see some good winter rains and snows in the Southwest. Of course we have got drought we've got drought all across the South they should also expect to see an increase in rainfall as we head deeper into the autumn." We had a good snow and rain last winter, the first in six or seven years but it appears that the dry conditions will return this winter. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott