Central Florida is typically much drier during the winter months, but a strengthening El Nino could change that pattern this season, increasing the potential for heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and even tornadoes.
The possibility is getting extra attention because two of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in Florida history happened during strong El Nino winters.
On Feb. 2, 2007, tornadoes tore across Central Florida in the middle of the night during the deadly Groundhog Day outbreak. Twenty-one people were killed in Lake County, including entire families. Victims ranged in age from 7 to 92…