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Variable temperatures and above-average precipitation from La Niña may improve soil conditions before spring

The Illinois state climatologist says a strengthening La Niña weather pattern could bring some much-needed drought relief to the Midwest.

Dr. Trent Ford says it usually means active weather with above-average moisture.

“Wetter conditions all the way up through the Ohio Valley.”  He says, “But if that does hit, if La Niña can influence our weather in a very typical fashion to bring us those storm tracks, that would be greatly beneficial to replenishing that soil moisture.”

He tells Brownfield that he’s optimistic that the soil can be recharged before spring.

“We have some time to try to fill those voids.”  He says, “Hopefully we have a wetter winter and wetter start to spring, but looking at our soil moisture measurements down 20 to 50 inches, our water table levels across the state, hopefully we start to see some positive responses to wetter conditions so that we don’t have to be as concerned starting in spring.”

Ford says La Niña usually brings variable temperatures to the region, which could also allow more water to seep into the soil.

AUDIO: Dr. Trent Ford – Illinois State Climatologist