11 photos that show how incredibly bizarre the weather in the US has been this month

The US has certainly had its share of wacky December weather this year. 

With people on the East Coast basking in warm temperatures, severe storms tearing up the South, and blizzards dumping snow on southwest states, it's no doubt that thanks to El Niño, this month is one for the books.

El Niño, a weather pattern that's characterized by warmer-than average water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, can often lead to unexpected weather events around the world like the ones that happened in the past few weeks.

Here are some snapshots of the US (and elsewhere) experiencing unseasonably warm weather:

CHECK OUT: Why the East Coast is warmer than the West Coast right now

NEXT: Something strange is happening to US temperatures right now

In keeping with the mild beginning of December, New Yorkers spent Christmas Day in minimal outerwear doing warm-weather activities like row-boating. On December 25, the temperature in New York hit 66 degrees, 26 degrees above the historic average temperature. Here are a few enjoying Central Park:

Source. 

Unusually warm air over the Pacific Ocean, a weather pattern called El Niño, is messing up the jet stream that keeps the northern part of the US cool in the winter. That's why those wanting to work off Christmas cookies with a run could do so without bundling up. This Christmas jogger ran through New York's Central Park clad in only a pair of shorts on Dec. 25.

Here's what's going on: Instead of going directly over the country, the jet stream is currently blowing cold air down to the southwest before scooting far north. That way, it's missing most of the East Coast and messing up the temperatures farther south.