Meteorologists Predict Drought Conditions for Upcoming Winter Months Ahead
South Florida is expected to experience a relatively warm and dry winter due to a La Niña weather pattern. The National Weather Service issued its annual dry season outlook, noting that La Niña will influence the region’s weather despite being considered relatively weak.
A general warming trend over the past decade is likely to be enhanced by La Niña, resulting in warmer winters. Drought conditions have persisted in most of South Florida, except for coastal areas, with November being particularly dry in several areas of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.
The La Niña weather pattern typically causes winter storms to track north of Florida, leading to drier-than-normal conditions and less storminess. However, cold snaps are still possible when the jet stream fluctuates and brings cold air and storms to the region.
The combination of La Niña and warming trends suggests a warmer winter for South Florida. The region has experienced above-normal temperatures for the past 10 winters, with the last cooler-than-normal winter occurring in 2010-11.
Drought conditions are already present in South Florida, and forecasts indicate that they will likely persist or worsen. This could lead to an increased threat of wildfires as early as January. Despite the potential for exceptions, La Niña is expected to set the stage for individual weather events, but not cause them directly.