The tri-state area is getting an early taste of summer with temperatures soaring into the high 70s. The sunny skies and warm weather are expected to continue into tomorrow, offering residents a break from the typical chill of early spring.
However, this taste of June won't last long. Rain is expected to roll in late Wednesday, with showers possible on Thursday. The temperatures will also drop, with highs only reaching into the 50s. Friday will see the return of clouds, with mostly cloudy skies and a high of 62 degrees.
While residents enjoy the brief spell of warm weather, it's important to remember that these fluctuations in temperature are not uncommon during the transition from spring to summer.
As we move further into the season, weather patterns will continue to change. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center has noted the emergence of an El Nino, a natural climate phenomenon marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator.
"Depending on its strength, El Nino can cause a range of impacts, such as increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in certain locations around the world," said Michelle L'Heureux, a climate scientist at the Climate Prediction Center.
El Nino's influence on the U.S. is weak during the summer and more pronounced starting in the late fall through spring. By winter, there is an 84% chance of greater than a moderate strength El Nino, and a 56% chance of a strong El Nino developing.