01/18/06 Forecaster sees cool wet spring

Washington Ag January 18, 2006 Both northwest dryland farmers and irrigators dependent upon snowmelt runoff should have liked the long term weather forecast given at Spokane's Pacific Northwest Farm Forum this week. Doctor Art Douglas of Creighton University's Atmospheric Sciences Department told the forum Tuesday he expects a reduction in the precipitation levels we've been seeing as well as colder temperatures when we get into late winter and early spring. But still; Douglas: "Pretty normal spring precipitation. Slightly above normal. Maybe about 110%. Cooler than normal temperatures in the spring. About a half a degree below normal. This is going to keep snow levels down. This will allow us to build up some more snow pack and then with a cooler spring it is also going to mean a slower melt." Artic cold is still a possibility but Douglas thinks it will miss the northwest. Douglas: "Right now the best indication is the major artic air should be going more towards the Dakotas and eastern Montana and not here into the Pacific Northwest." Douglas expects a hot, dry summer similar to last year with the fall of 2006 maybe not as warm as last year but with normal to above normal precipitation. Elsewhere in the U.S. he sees continued drought in the southern Plains with dryness moving up into the Ohio Valley. I'm Bob Hoff.