(Radio Iowa) – Monsoon isn’t a term we hear often in Iowa, but that may be what’s at least partly responsible for our prolonged drought conditions. Heavy rain in the southwestern U-S can draw moisture away from the Northern Plains. Meteorologist Doug Kluck, the climate services director for the National Weather Service Central Region, says that pattern has been spinning away for the past several weeks.

While large portions of Iowa have remained in drought for months, Kluck says long-term weather patterns have been moving more precipitation into the central parts of the country.

Kluck says with another La Nina possible, there is no guarantee that Southwestern moisture will continue.

Predictions are calling for a third year of La Nina, which could lead to a colder-than-normal winter across the Northern Plains.