01/12/05 Forecaster sees dry winter, better spring

Farm and Ranch January 12, 2005 Long term weather forecaster, Doctor Art Douglas of Creighton University, told this week's Pacific Northwest Farm Forum in Spokane, that a body of warm water in the north Pacific is influencing Pacific Northwest weather more than a weak El Nino is. Douglas said the warm water has created a high pressure area that is blocking storms and moisture from hitting the northwest. Given existing weather patterns he expects 2005 will be a lot like 1952, 1957, 1972, 1991 and 1993. Here is Douglas' Pacific Northwest forecast for the remainder of this winter and the upcoming cropping season. Douglas: "Look for a cool, dry January through March. Precip in the wheat areas about two to three inches below normal. Then as we go into the April to June period, the cool temperatures are gradually going to relax. Precip may go above normal ½ inch to one inch April through June. Then as we finally get into the summer it is likely then to be a drier than normal summer with that high pressure reestablishing itself offshore." As for the Midwestern U.S. grain and cornbelt; Douglas: "The Midwest will probably see a repeat of last year's cool and wet summer and therefore things should really be ideal." Douglas said the Canadian Plains could see a cold and snowy spring and if El Nino persists their fall will be dry. Australia may see drier than normal conditions for the planting of their next winter wheat crop. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.