Following a wild and wet early November and a cold and dry Thanksgiving, we have seen many forms of weather as we approach winter. There is a developing strong El Nino which has most weather forecasters saying will lead to a warmer and dryer winter for us in the northwest.
BUT DON'T WRITE OFF WINTER JUST YET
Just as the weather forecasters are telling us we won't have much of a winter, we just had an icy morning last week and might even have one tonight or tomorrow morning.
It is likely we won't get a big winter snow storm but it is not out of the question. We have prepared and will be on watch throughout the winter, just in case.
EL NINO COULD EXTEND THE DROUGHT
What we also need to think about is if El Nino results in another low snowpack winter. As shown above, as of November 27
, we are still officially in drought conditions.
The rain the past month doesn't make up for the extended drought we have had. We need relief for our water supply as well as state forests, fisheries, and agriculture. We hope to not have to endure another summer like the last.