La Nina Brings a Dry Start to 2026 in Southern Plains Wheat Areas

Wednesday, January 7, 2026 • 2 PM

(High Plains Regional Climate Center graphic)

One of the defining characteristics of a La Nina cool-water phase in the Pacific Ocean is its influence on dry conditions in the winter wheat areas of the U.S. Southern Plains. And as January 2026 gets underway, most hard red winter wheat areas are starting the new year on a very dry note after a parched month of December 2025.