The latest seasonal drought outlook from the US Climate Prediction Center is indicating more dryness and drought for portions of the southern Plains, a major winter wheat production region.
Released Thursday, the outlook said drought has expanded and intensified throughout the southern Plains since mid-October, consistent with the ongoing La Nina event. As shown on map below, drought is expected to persist in large parts of Oklahoma and Texas through the forecast period of February, March and April. However, the No. 1 US winter wheat production state of Kansas is expected to be largely spared.
Forecasters with the US Climate Prediction Center said last week they expect the current La Nina event to slowly fade over the next couple of months, gradually transitioning to more neutral conditions between February and April. Farther out, forecasters said the development of an El Nino event is possible in the summer.
Typically, El Nino events are associated with wetter weather for the southern Plains.
According to the Climate Prediction Center, December was particularly dry and warm for Oklahoma with nearly all of the state receiving less than 0.25 inch of precipitation and monthly temperatures averaging 3 to 6 degrees F above normal.
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