This is not a joke.
The first day of the month, April Fools' Day, brought warmth and sun. But, the harsh reality is that the Philadelphia region can expect more cold, wet weather in April, according to NBC10 First Alert Weather Chief Meteorologist Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz.
Temperatures were 4.6 degrees below normal in Philadelphia in March, the coldest since 1996, and 8.5 inches of snow was recorded.
The warmer than normal ocean temperatures off the Pacific Northwest and Alaska has not changed or moved. Hurricane attributes those warmer ocean temperatures to our cold and snowy winter. That's why the Philadelphia region will continue to experience a cold, wet pattern in April. The change in temperatures has also contributed to the droughts experienced in parts of California, Oklahoma and Texas.
An El Nino is likely to develop between April and June, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Hurricane says what happens near the equator has a big impact on what's happening around the globe.
"I think it's going to be a big deal," said Hurricane.
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"The El Nino is likely to break the California drought, put a damper on the Atlantic Hurricane season and if it's strong enough, bring us a much milder and less snowy winter," he added.
Contact Sarah Glover at 610-668-5580, sarah.glover@nbcuni.com or follow @skyphoto on Twitter.
