Mark Parent
Opinions Editor

Let’s just say it: El Nino, for North Carolinians, is a sign of God’s existence.You see, here in the South, cold temperatures are about as welcome as a drunk at a teetotalers meeting.

It’s due to this utter dislike of sub-fifty degree weather that I’m giddy about the effects of El Nino, and, more than that, it makes me wish climate change was a real phenomenon (that’s a joke, folks).

Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to list some of the main benefits to having a warm winter.

First, nicer weather encourages physical fitness and improves personal diets. Put simply, when people can’t bundle up in three layers of clothes, they’re less likely to let themselves go.

Also, it’s just common sense to point out that nicer weather is conducive to increased physical activity — particularly outdoors.

So, nutrition majors, you should all be rejoicing at the impact of El Nino!

Second, warm weather is better for your mental health.Interestingly, an individual’s level of personal exercise is often conducive to greater mental health.

This is critical when one remembers that, due to various reasons, colder weather tends to push more people in the direction of a couch than an elliptical.

Cold weather is also likely to derail a person’s social activities. You see, when it’s freezing outside or the roads may be dangerous, people tend to stay home and watch Netflix rather than work on their liver’s alcohol tolerance. This, of course, is terrible for your state of mind.

According to a study published by the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, “social isolation puts you at greater risk for social health problems.”

Third, and most importantly, it allows us to walk more comfortably to class in the morning.

For all of the dumb freshmen that take 8 a.m. classes — yes, it’s pretty much just them — this is a living nightmare. I distinctly remember how difficult it was to get up for my 8 a.m. class — at one time, I was a dumb freshman too — and how it was all I could do to not roll over and say, “screw it.” In addition to these major nuisances, when it’s warmer outside, it becomes socially acceptable to start your day with an iced beverage — like sweet tea — rather than that yankee coffee.

And, since we’re in the south, it’s ideal that you pair that sweet tea with a wardrobe showcasing a plethora of bright colors. Winter is just way too depressing with all of those bland neutrals!

So there you have it. El Nino is having a positive impact on those craving better health, improved mental wellbeing, and an increased presence of sweet tea and bright-colored clothes — in retrospect, I realized that no one cares about freshmen and their 8 a.m. classes.

Oh, and since El Nino is forecasted to last into the spring, we may get to enjoy this warm weather all winter long!