An Iowa State University climatologist says the current El Nino weather pattern is generally providing Iowa with milder temperatures this winter. Elywnn Taylor says it’s also bringing abundant moisture which is causing sub-soil tiles to run at full capacity to drain the state’s farm fields. Taylor says there’s a big drawback for farmers from El Nino….
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Taylor says a strong El Nino weather pattern, like we have now, is often historically replaced by the opposite La Nina (La-NEEN-ya) pattern, which brings drought conditions during the summer and fall. Taylor says first indications of that won’t be apparent until late March when the sun moves into spring position over the Midwest.