Statewide Iowa — The Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service is issuing a La Nina Watch for later this year.
Cooler than normal Pacific Ocean surface temperatures lead to the formation of a La Nina, which can cause cooler, wetter conditions in Iowa and across much of North America. Meteorologist Doug Kluck, with the National Weather Service in Kansas City, says we just had a La Nina pattern fade away several months ago.
Historically, La Ninas have caused below-normal temperatures across much of the Northern Plains states. An El Nino can bring weather extremes, including severe drought or severe flooding. Kluck says the last La Nina, which evaporated this past spring, didn’t have the normal impacts.
Kluck says the issuing of the watch means it’s anticipated there will be a formation of a La Nina by late fall and into winter.
