Despite a dry winter season, Iowa farmers can rest assured knowing there is little possibility of drought in the upcoming planting and growing season due to El Ni¤o.

El Ni¤o is a disruption of the ocean atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific and usually increases rainfall in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

This year has been an El Ni¤o year by minimum standards, said Elwynn Taylor, professor of agronomy.

The minimal sea surface temperature for a year to be classified El Ni¤o is two to five degrees above normal. This temperature was reached on Feb. 5, Taylor said.

The temperatures are taken along the equator near the west coast of South America, Taylor said.

“We’ve never had a widespread drought during El Ni¤o,” Taylor said.

In the past 100 years, there have only been 17 droughts in Iowa, Taylor said.

There is some worry because it appears as if El Ni¤o has died, said Bill Gallus, associate professor of geological and atmospheric sciences.

“It’s too early to say it’s gone for sure,” Gallus said.

El Ni¤o has remained at minimal sea temperatures since February, about one degree above normal sea temperatures, Taylor said.

This brings back the normal possibility of a drought, he said.

Taylor said he does not anticipate a drought for this year.

However, Gallus said there is some anticipation and anxiety regarding a drought.

“We’ve had a very dry winter all through the upper Midwest,” he said. “Some people worried about that.”

Gallus said this should not be a huge worry because winter is normally a dry time of year.

Any moisture probably would not have reached the soil because it was frozen, he said.

A lot is up in the air right now regarding weather predictions for the spring and summer. This is because the weather is in the middle of a transition, Gallus said.

Current predictions show there should be normal temperatures for the region during the spring and summer of this year, Taylor said.

There is usually some anxiety about it being too wet for effective planting in some Iowa counties. These worries are familiar ones particularly for southern and eastern Iowa, she said.

There are also counties in the state that have reasonable anxiety about drought because of currently low soil moisture.

Story County is below normal on soil water, but not critical enough to cause concern, Taylor said.

“We could use two extra inches of rain,” he said.

Gallus said now is a good time for Iowa to receive some moisture since it is before field work begins and after the ground has thawed.

Generally, Iowa receives most of its rain in May and June, which is perfect timing, he said.

“A lot depends on the next couple of weeks,” Gallus said.