Super El Nino Scare
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. Reports of the Northwest possibly entering a “Super El Nino” year has many farmers wondering how challenging the year ahead may be.
But, Cliff Mass, Atmospheric Sciences Professor at the University of Washington, says he isn’t too worried because the reservoirs feeding the Yakima river basin are currently very full …
MASS … “And the other thing is the Columbia is in good shape. The Yakima is one thing, but actually there was much more snow up in British Columbia. All the estimates are very favorable for the Columbia which a lot of people use for irrigation. So, the Columbia irrigation is fine, and I just don’t see, starting this full, how we’re going to get into trouble. I just don’t see it.”
But what about the Super El Nino? …
MASS … “The Super El Nino, well that’s too early and, I mean we are definitely going into an El Nino. We’re really unsure how strong it’s going to be quite frankly. The skill this time of the year is terrible. So, they can make headlines about Super El Ninos but that’s nonsense.”
Mass says El Nino is one thing …
MASS … “We’re definitely going into an El Nino, but that doesn’t effect the summer. The correlation with the summer is extraordinarily small. So, we know at this point, there’s no reason to bet, to say that summer is going to be unusual.”
So, Mass says don’t worry …
MASS … “I just don’t see the crisis here, not with the reservoirs this full, and the soil moisture this good.
You know, it’s just, there’s no reason.”
U-Dub Atmospheric Scientist, Cliff Mass.
