Mississippi River could stay low this winter, as NOAA predicts continued dry conditions for much of its watershed

NOAA drought outlook through January

This winter, drier-than-normal weather is expected to persist across the southern U.S. and Gulf Coast, Karl Plume reports for Reuters, citing a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center. Those dry conditions should keep water levels low on the Mississippi River, where shipping traffic to and from the Gulf Coast has been stalled or even stopped by low water. 

The dry weather is credited to an expected return of La Niña, a climate phenomenon that alters weather patterns, for the third consecutive winter, the NOAA report says. Drought spans 59% of the country and dry conditions are expected to continue or worsen in much of the West and Great Plains. That's bad news for the southern Plains farm belt "where farmers are struggling to plant their winter wheat crop due to excessively dry soils," Plume writes. Parts of California, the Southwest and southern Rockies could also see drier-than-average conditions, and drought is forecast to expand in the Southeast.

However, above-average precipitation is expected in the Midwest and Ohio River valley, which could eventually could provide relief to the Mississippi later in the winter. Additionally, the NOAA forecasts that the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies should get wetter-than-average conditions.