State Climatologist says spring rains needed to avoid drought

State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says the federal forecast for potential drought this summer confirms what he’s been saying the last several weeks. He says “La Nina” does present the possibility of a drier than normal spring, leading to drought.Hillaker says the unusually dry fall weather is to blame for leaving the state’s moisture levels low. Hillaker is holding out hope for some spring showers to replenish the soil moisture.He says the state needs the type of rain that can slowly soak into the soil.Hillaker says if those spring rains don’t come, then it will be time to worry about a possible drought.