El Niño / La Niña Local Effect on Severe Weather

Across Florida El Niño causes increased storminess which can also mean an increase in the amount of severe weather thanks to the frequent cold fronts moving across the state along with the stronger upper level jet stream.

Based on the locally derived El Niño/La Niña yearly anomalies, the graph below of December through April Severe Weather during strong El Niño years vs. strong La Niña years (since December 1950) shows that west central and southwest Florida does experience severe weather (i.e. tornadoes, strong damaging winds, and hail) up to twice as often in the winter and spring during strong El Niño conditions than during strong La Niña conditions.