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Drought, fire risk to stay high during third La Niña winter

FILE - Lake Michigan is covered with snow and ice in Chicago, Jan. 17, 2022. La Niña, a weather pattern characterized by cold ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, is returning for a rare third winter, officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. That means December, January and February are likely to bring drier than average conditions across the southern states and wetter than average weather for areas including the Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File) FILE - An empty boat dock is viewed at the Great Salt Lake Marina, Aug. 26, 2022, near Salt Lake City. Drought and wildfire risks will remain elevated in the western states while warmer than average temperatures will greet the Southwest, Gulf Coast and East Coast this winter, federal weather officials said Thursday, Oct. 20. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) FILE - A lone pedestrian navigates Chicago's famed Loop in windy, falling snow and slushy street conditions Feb. 2, 2022. La Niña, a weather pattern characterized by cold ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, is returning for a rare third winter, officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. That means December, January and February are likely to bring drier than average conditions across the southern states and wetter than average weather for areas including the Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) FILE - Water levels are low at San Luis Reservoir, which stores irrigation water for San Joaquin Valley farms, in Gustine, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022. Drought and wildfire risks will remain elevated in the western states while warmer than average temperatures will greet the Southwest, Gulf Coast and East Coast this winter, federal weather officials said Thursday, Oct. 20. (AP Photo/Terry Chea, File) FILE - A firefighter monitors a backfire, flames lit by fire crews to burn off vegetation, while battling the Mosquito Fire in the Volcanoville community of El Dorado County, Calif., on Sept. 9, 2022. Drought and wildfire risks will remain elevated in the western states while warmer than average temperatures will greet the Southwest, Gulf Coast and East Coast this winter, federal weather officials said Thursday, Oct. 20. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)
Drought, fire risk to stay high during third La Niña winter