(Des Moines) The March weather outlook is showing warmer than normal temperatures and a signal of a locked-in La Nina.
State Climatologist Justin Glisan says a La Nina is a cold sea service anomaly in the tropical Pacific Ocean that impacts the United States’ storm track. Glisan says in analog years when a moderate strength La Nina is present, there is a higher probability of wetter conditions across the Ohio Valley and up through the Pacific Northwest, plus an elevated probability of drier than normal conditions in the high plains to the southwest part of the U.S.
Glisan says looking ahead to the March, April, May, and April, May, June outlook, there is a higher probability of wetter conditions that start to move further west and cover a part of Iowa.
The latest drought monitor shows severe to moderate drought in western Iowa heading into the growing season.
