TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The 2023-2024 winter has been characterized by cool temps, rainy days and cloudy skies. The unusual pattern can be attributed to El Niño.
The El Niño weather pattern has been in place since last summer and because it has been a “strong” El Niño at times, the effects have been amplified.
The warmer water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean lead to more cloud cover and an amplified subtropical jet stream. That active jet stream has been parked over the southeast, specifically Florida, bringing in clouds and rainy conditions.
It’s a path for the storm systems that develop to ride along, which is why it has been so rainy. The jet stream will move those fronts through the area every few days.
When compared to last year, the month of January has been much cloudier. The number of mostly cloudy and partly cloudy days has been somewhat similar but the noticeable change between the two years is the lack of clear sky days.
In 2023, the whole month of January had 13 clear sky days. This year, there have been zero clear sky days with just nine days left to go in the month.