The prospects for excessive rain this winter and upcoming spring do not look good for drought-stricken Georgia and Northwest Florida.

That's one of the topics under discussion at the 32nd annual Climate Diagnostics Workshop held jointly by NOAA and the Center for Ocean-Atmosphere Prediction Studies at Florida State University.

The agricultural and societal impacts could be devastating if more consistent rains do not arrive soon.

In an interview with Eyewitness News, Bart Hagemeyer with the National Weather Service and a participant in the conference noted, "It's drier than normal in Florida and adjacent areas of Georgia, but we can't really say it'll be record dry But the prospect for excessive, above-normal rainfall is pretty low."

Some of the scientists are also concerned about another fire season during the upcoming spring if La Nina continues to develop as predicted. Participants of the workshop are also looking at ways to tailor the needs of farmers through better communication and more specific forecasts.