You'll want to pay attention to the forecasts for this winter if you're a snowbird or a vacationer seeking warmer and less snowy skies in Florida. This winter may be unlike any other winter you've experienced — think: WET.

Florida's dry season is typically from October to May, but this stretch of months won't be dry this year.

As a snowbird myself who goes from Georgia to Florida a couple of times each cool season, I have been watching the outlooks like a hawk because I know a lot of people are going to be caught off guard.

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Why this winter is different

This could be one of the wettest winters that Florida has experienced in our lifetimes.

El Niño will have a stranglehold on this year's forecast. In other words, think many rainier and stormier days. Fewer days on a mild, sunny beach.

I don't want the Florida tourism board blowing up my phone because there will be some advantages over many Northern locations this winter.

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It will be much warmer than North Dakota or New York and there will be much less snow. There will still be some sunny days with a high in the 70s and 80s. Probably still too many old men in unsightly bathing suits.

(MORE: El Niño could flip this winter's temperatures upside down)

But the Instagrammable Florida winter will be more difficult to find this year.

One of the strongest, if not the strongest, El Niño will be peaking at the end of this year and its impacts will continue well into 2027. Hopefully I am not writing a similar article ahead of spring break, but it is possible.

In El Niño events, especially of the turbocharged variety, a strong jet stream will be parked over the southern tier of the country, bringing wetter weather from California to the Southeast. Additional cloud cover will also mean that there will likely be slightly cooler temperatures, too.

Not only will it likely be rainy; historically, the number of cloudy days spikes during strong (or super) El Niños.

Severe weather also spikes in the late winter months.

The same jet stream that brings more rain is also favorable for the development of squall lines and tornadoes, especially in February and March. The number of severe weather reports doubles during strong El Niños compared to any other strength of El Niño or La Niña.

A look back at previous El Niño events in Florida

If you've been heading to Florida for a long time or are a lifer in the state, you probably remember the winter of 1997-98.

That winter ranks as the wettest winter for the state, and the second-wettest year on the list (1963-64) averaged over 5 inches drier. That's an enormous margin.

Not only was it wet, but it was also tragically stormy.

February 1998 ended in a tornado outbreak that ended up being called "the night of the tornadoes." A series of 15 tornadoes ripped across Central Florida, resulting in 42 deaths and 5,000 residences destroyed, left uninhabitable or damaged.

(WATCH: What El Niño could do to your heating bills, hurricane season and travel plans)

Here's how four other super El Niños went:

• 2015-16: South Florida saw its wettest winter on record. Miami received more than 20 inches of rain, which is over 3x as much rain as the city typically sees in the winter. A squall line in January brought multiple strong tornadoes and wind gusts to 80 mph to Florida's west coast.
• 1991-92: The typical signals of a strong El Niño did not show up.
• 1982-83: Fort Myers picked up more than twice as much rainfall as is average for the dry season in Southwest Florida. Miami also saw one of its wettest winters on record. Severe weather closed out winter and persisted into the spring, with tornadoes as far south as Cuba.
• 1972-73: While this winter followed the typical wetter characteristic of El Niños, the one event that stuck out was actually snow in Florida. Due to the southern storm track that is common in El Niño years, snow can sometimes fall further south. In one such storm, snow accumulated as far south as northern Florida, with flurries being reported in the Orlando metro area. Over a foot of snow fell from Alabama to North Carolina.

Here's what precipitation looked like compared to normal for strong El Niño events:

You can find similar maps for temperatures compared to average here.

Advice that I am taking myself

As somebody who has dodged storms (usually of the tropical variety) in my own Florida trips, I know that weather can upend your plans. There was one time when over a foot of rain fell during one night at the parks in Orlando.

Some of the things that I have learned over the years:

• Be flexible. I always have a backup date in mind for the trip to the beach, the parks or a cruise on the Gulf.
• It should go without saying at this point, but be mindful of the weather and the venues you're going to. We're always thinking about ponchos, bug spray and sunscreen. Some venues like stadiums don't allow umbrellas, while others just make carrying some objects for hours on end inconvenient. If you can bring a bag, bring an extra pair of flip-flops or socks or put them in your car if you can't have a bag.
• Don't forget the trip home. Winter in Florida can be very different from anywhere else in the winter months. Bring a pair of heavier pants and a long-sleeve shirt or coat, even if it looks ridiculous next to your swimsuit and sunglasses in your luggage. That way, when you get off the plane or out of the car in temperatures 50 degrees colder than Florida, you won't freeze. I have definitely gotten sick after that chilly return to Georgia in January. I cannot help you with your regrets about your choice to leave the heat.
• Find a few indoor venues for your time. I'm thinking of the many lighthouses and forts that Florida has to offer, but you can also put your thunderstorm plan in place if you're a summer visitor. That just means that you have an indoor plan for an hour or so during your outdoor plans for that quick rain shower. For instance, hold off on that dark ride at Universal or grab lunch at the indoor tiki bar until the rain is coming, but make that move before everyone else knows rain is coming.
• Just get wet. There may be some washout days this winter, so why not have fun with it? If you can find days without thunderstorms, take an airboat ride or go for a splash in one of the natural springs. Just be mindful of the local wildlife.
• Have a severe weather plan in place. If you're staying in a temporary structure or mobile home during your stay, it won't be safe to stay there if strong winds or tornadoes threaten. A night in a hotel might be the better choice.

Jonathan Belles has been a digital meteorologist for weather.com for 10 years. His favorite weather is tropical weather, but also enjoys covering high-impact weather and news stories and winter storms. He's a two-time graduate of Florida State University and a proud graduate of St. Petersburg College.