All Signs Point to Dry Spring Planting Season in 2021

There are four dominant climatic cycles in place that foreshadow a quick spring planting season uninterrupted by rainfall in 2021. It’s good news for farmers trying to beat the clock in getting their crops in the ground, but bad news for those who have already been facing dry or drought conditions as 2020 winds down. Cycles like Pacific decadal oscillation, Atlantic multidecadal oscillation and a weak solar minimum sun cycle are lining up for a “100-year event” in some parts of the country. Add to that a strong La Niña trending, and the new year will at least start dry and warmer than normal for much of the U.S. Though La Niña could begin to subside in the next three months, its influence will likely remain for at least the first half of 2021. See more of the latest long-term outlook.