El Niño Could Stave Off Drought Conditions in 2023, but be Prepared for Severe Weather

In 2022, at least 44% of the continental U.S. was experiencing moderate to exceptional drought conditions. But the exiting of La Niña will mean the same won’t be true for 2023. In fact, much of the dryness could improve thanks to an expected increase in precipitation.

According to Nutrien Ag’s Principal Atmospheric Scientist Eric Snodgrass, much will depend on whether El Niño will stay neutral. Snodgrass says a neutral pattern is a net positive for much of the corn and soybean belt. But drought conditions could still be a problem in other areas such as the Missouri River Valley, Mississippi River Basin and the Ohio River Valley, areas that are still seeing moisture deficits at 40” deep.

Snodgrass says severe weather this spring is as much on the table as drought uncertainty. He says with the momentum in the Jetstream and the above-average snowpack in the West, spring could bring severe weather throughout much of the central and southern U.S.

Read more on 2023 weather predictions here.