Ames, Iowa — The La Niña weather pattern is gone, and the National Climate Prediction Center anticipates an El Niño will develop within a few months, which could be welcome news for Iowa farmers.
Meteorologist Dennis Todey, director of the USDA’s Midwest Climate Hub, based in Ames, says El Niños typically mean a decent growing season for our region, while the extra rainfall could help to knock down the long-running drought.
While the La Niña lasted for three years, he says the switch to an El Niño pattern is coming on much faster than expected.
Wide areas of Iowa have suffered with drought, and this weather shift could provide some much-needed relief.
Northwest Iowa’s Monona and Woodbury counties are in the worst category, exceptional drought, while much of Iowa’s western half is either rated in moderate, severe or extreme drought, while broad sections of central and eastern Iowa are listed as abnormally dry.
According to the weather facts ascertained daily by KIWA Radio, downtown Sheldon closed 2022 at 8.21 inches below normal.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the extreme west-northwestern portion of the 4-county area is abnormally dry. Half of Lyon, the majority of Sioux, and the majority of Osceola counties are in moderate drought. The entire county of O’Brien, as well as far southern Osceola and far eastern Sioux counties are in severe drought.
