“If you’ve received moisture lately, consider yourself lucky. Otherwise, you will need to plan for more dry times during Spring and Summer 2021,” said Meteorologist Brian Bledsoe of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Bledsoe was one of the presenters at the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation (TAWC) virtual Water College, held Jan. 20-21. He is the chief meteorologist for KKTV-TV in Colorado Springs and also operates a private forecasting business.

Bledsoe told the group that West Texas and the Four Corners region of the Southwest are the “crux of drought.” Most of the best moisture has fallen in the eastern United States as a result of the La Niña weather pattern.

He shared two computer models which indicate a moderate to strong La Niña pattern with no sign of weakening through Spring and Summer 2021. One model showed some relaxation in June—but the persistent weather pattern will not go away.

There will still be opportunities for precipitation. However, Bledsoe says the frequency of storms that deliver beneficial rainfall will be reduced.

“It’s not good news at all. We all know that drought begets drought. It’s hard to break a weather pattern like this. People should plan for more dry times and be prepared for risks associated with it,” said Bledsoe.