Early odds point to another La Nina
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, July 13th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – As the drought continues to sink its claws into the region, the Climate Prediction Center is looking for future relief. Forecasters say there’s a chance that the winter will bring a La Nina pattern, which in the Pacific Northwest means cooler temperatures and more precipitation.
“Through the winter, there’s about a 66 percent chance,” National Weather Service Hydrologist Marilyn Lohmann said. “It’s not certain yet, but maybe it’s something to, depending on who you are, look forward to.”
She said that the typical chill in the air and snow on the ground impact of a La Nina took its time developing last winter.
“It wasn’t happening through December and January,” she said. “It was finally February and parts of March that it kind of kicked in.”
The effects of last winter’s La Nina was much more strongly felt in Washington state and British Columbia, Lohmann said. She added that having La Nina conditions for two winters in a row is not unusual.
