The everyday 3:00pm thunderstorm that South Florida residents are all too familiar with is one of the most characteristic weather patterns of the state. But there may be a hidden driver causing chaotic and heavy rainfall this fall season. El Niño, the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, is a natural climate pattern that begins in the tropical Pacific Ocean. During an El Niño event, surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific become warmer than average, changing atmospheric circulation and shifting the position of the jet stream. Those changes can influence weather patterns far beyond the Pacific, including right here in Florida.

Florida winters usually bring mild mornings, sunny afternoons, and require maybe a light jacket at most. But this winter has felt a bit different. Colder nights, lingering chill, and the occasional shivering moment next to a warm fire. This New Year’s Eve, our community saw lows of 43F, and those temperatures hung around for a […]

Many Floridians know these beloved creatures as the “cows of the sea”, but manatees are actually some of the friendliest and awe-inspiring creatures of Florida’s coastal waters. Manatee season typically lasts from November through the end of March in Florida, and this is when many curious residents can expect to see some Manatees nearby or […]