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Experts Expect Wetter & Cooler South Florida Dry Season

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Weather experts released a new dry season outlook Thursday afternoon.  The forecast calls for a wetter and cooler than normal winter season in South Florida.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Miami said the primary factor for their forecast is the likely occurrence of El Niño.

El Niño is the warm phase of the Southern Oscillation in the Pacific Ocean.

Experts say El Niño winters are characterized by a more active southern jet stream that often brings more rainfall to the region.

The same events that bring the rainfall during the winter season sometimes contribute to additional severe weather outbreaks, the National Weather Service explained.

El Niño is also known to bring cooler temperatures because of the increased number of cloudy days due to rainfall.

Officials don't believe the number of freeze events around South Florida will be any higher than other winters.

South Florida typically sees one minor freeze during the winter season in December and January.  

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