Spring Storms Continue as an El Nino Rolls In

Southern states dealt with heavy rains over last weekend causing flooding across the region and several states remain underwater. At least 20 people lost their lives - 10 in Tennessee alone. Several cities issued evacuation orders as rescue crews in inflatable boats checked on residents in Kentucky and Tennessee. Tornados also followed the rain. Power and natural gas were shut off in some towns across a region stretching from Texas to Ohio. 

The weather cooling phenomenon known as La Nina is dwindling and, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is turning to an El Nino neutral condition. El Nino weather patterns are historically known as being responsible for flooding in some regions and drought in others as well as making weather hard to predict.

The U.S. drought monitor shows the heavy rains did help improve drought conditions across the south, southeast and midwest. Even with the eight point improvement more than half the country is in some kind of drought. 

For Market to Market, I’m David Miller.

contact: miller@iowapbs.org