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Pattern shift could bring drought relief to Southwest, Texas

Drought relief could come this fall for the southwestern United States.

The Pacific Ocean is shifting from La Niña to El Niño.  University of Missouri atmospheric science professor Anthony Lupo says the result of the shift will become evident in the fall.

“Rain will set up along the southern tier of states,” said Lupo, in an interview provided by the University of Missouri.  “It’ll be wetter than normal, which is good news for the southwest United States and Texas as well.”

Lupo says the four-year-old La Niña has parts of the U.S. very dry. But he says it looks like there will be a shift from La Niña to El Niño this year.

“As the summer progresses, a pattern will become more established that sets up more of what we call a zonal, or west to east pattern over the United States, and that’ll help bring rains ashore in the West and give relief to the Southwest into Texas and Kansas and those areas.”

The western and southwestern parts of the U.S. have taken the brunt of the drought, which for the time being is worsening.

The U.S. Drought Monitor had an 8-point increase in the Exceptional Drought area in California in the last week due to some northern areas having fallen into that category.