Preparing for El Niño isn't hurricane preparation. You don't need to board the windows or fill the bathtub.
Instead, think wetter, windier, cooler and more changeable than the Florida winter we may be accustomed to.
A few simple preparations now can make those dreary, rainy stretches a lot easier to deal with.
For Palm Coast and Flagler County residents, an El Niño winter can mean more stretches of cloudy, rainy and windy weather, along with the temperature swings Florida is famous for. One day may feel like winter, while a few days later we're back in short sleeves. Knowing what to expect — and making a few preparations ahead of time — can make those changing conditions easier to handle.
We usually associate dangerous driving conditions with Florida's summer thunderstorms, but an El Niño winter can bring repeated periods of rain and wet roads.
Check your windshield wipers now. If they're streaking, skipping or leaving portions of the windshield wet, replace them.
Check your tires as well, particularly tread depth and tire pressure. Wet roads increase stopping distances and standing water increases the risk of hydroplaning.
Keep an umbrella in the car — not in the house where it won't do you any good when you're standing in a Publix parking lot in the rain.
It's also worth keeping a lightweight rain jacket or poncho in the vehicle.
Yes, Floridians. It's time to find the jacket.
An El Niño winter doesn't mean months of freezing weather, but it can bring more cool, damp and windy days. And 50 degrees with wind and rain feels considerably different from 50 degrees under a Florida sun.
Make sure you've got:
This may also be the year to finally admit that flip-flops are not appropriate footwear for every weather condition Florida can produce.
More frequent rain makes small drainage problems much more noticeable.
Clean leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Make sure water is flowing away from the house rather than collecting against the foundation.
Look around the yard for areas where water routinely pools after a storm.
Check exterior drains and make sure they're clear.
And if you've been meaning to deal with that little roof leak that only happens when the rain blows from a certain direction, this would be a particularly good time to stop pretending it doesn't exist.
Winter fronts can get surprisingly gusty.
Secure lightweight patio furniture, umbrellas, decorations and anything else that tends to travel across the yard when the wind picks up.
Check trees for obviously dead or damaged limbs, particularly anything hanging over the house, driveway or power lines. Tree work around electrical lines should be left to qualified professionals.
This isn't hurricane preparation. It's simply reducing the number of things you'll have to chase across the neighborhood.
Cold rain and wind can be uncomfortable for pets even when the thermometer doesn't look particularly alarming.
Make sure outdoor pets have somewhere dry and protected from the wind, and bring animals inside during genuinely cold weather.
Keep towels handy for wet paws and coats.
And remember that some dogs who couldn't care less about thunder or fireworks may have very different opinions about howling wind, moving trees and everything outside suddenly making strange noises.
Florida heating systems don't run nearly as often as our air conditioners, which means problems sometimes aren't discovered until the first genuinely cold night.
Test the heat before you need it.
Change the HVAC filter if it's due, and make sure portable space heaters are in good condition before using them. Keep space heaters away from curtains, bedding, furniture and anything else that can burn.
You don't need to build a hurricane bunker for El Niño.
But strong fronts and thunderstorms can occasionally knock out electricity.
A few basics are worth having available: flashlights, fresh batteries, charged power banks, necessary medications and an easy way to receive weather alerts if the power or internet goes out.
If you already maintain a hurricane kit, most of this is probably sitting in your house already. Check it before you need it.
Your lawn probably won't need the same amount of help from the sprinkler system during a wetter, cooler winter.
Pay attention to rainfall and reduce irrigation when Mother Nature is already doing the job.
Repeatedly watering already-saturated soil can create problems for lawns and landscaping and waste water.
Garden preparation doesn't have to be complicated.
Know which of your plants are tropical or cold-sensitive, have frost cloth or old sheets available before a cold snap arrives, mulch vulnerable plants and have a plan for moving tender container plants into a protected area.
Avoid heavy pruning or fertilizing cold-sensitive plants late in the season because both can encourage tender new growth.
And after a freeze, resist the urge to immediately cut everything that turned brown. Some plants that look terrible will recover once warm weather returns.
This may be the most useful preparation of all.
An El Niño winter doesn't mean Florida suddenly turns cold in December and stays that way until March.
We can still have 80-degree afternoons.
What may change is the frequency and intensity of the swings — warm weather followed by a front, rain, wind and a substantial temperature drop, followed several days later by another warm-up.
Don't prepare for one long Florida winter.
Prepare for a winter that may keep changing its mind.
Not necessarily. Florida can still have plenty of warm winter days. El Niño can contribute to a wetter and more active weather pattern, with periods of rain, wind and cooler temperatures as weather systems move through.
Florida often experiences wetter conditions during El Niño winters, although rainfall varies by location and from one El Niño event to another. Residents should be prepared for repeated stretches of wet weather rather than assuming every day will be rainy.
No. El Niño preparation is more about being ready for changing weather, rain, gusty winds and occasional cold spells. Basic home maintenance, vehicle preparation, weather awareness and a small power-outage kit are generally more useful than hurricane-style preparations.
Possibly. Pay attention to actual rainfall and soil conditions. If rainfall is already providing enough moisture, reducing unnecessary irrigation can help prevent oversaturated soil and avoid wasting water.
Know which plants are cold-sensitive and keep frost cloth or other suitable coverings available. Tender container plants can be moved to a protected location, and mulch can help protect vulnerable roots. Avoid immediately pruning freeze-damaged plants because some may recover when warmer weather returns.