Iowa expert believes "La Nina" still potent

Government scientists say the “La Nina” weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean is weakening. Many blame “La Nina” for severe weather and the drought. Iowa State University climatologist Elwyn Taylor isn’t ready to say it’s “adios” for “La Nina.” He says they’ve learned by experience to not count La Nina out until it’s really over.Taylor is among those who believe “La Nina” creates the conditions for the majority of droughts and hurricanes. Taylor says 10 years ago, the world spent about 60 percent of its time in “neutral” weather patterns. But in the past decade, “La Nina” and “El Nino” have whipsawed back and forth, with no neutral weather patterns between. “El Nino,” another Pacific Ocean weather phenomenon, is blamed by Taylor and others as the cause of the floods of ’93.