Even as winter has been largely on "pause" since the first half of December, unusual large-scale weather phenomena have been occurring. The SOI wound up averaging an El Niño record +9.14 in December with 45 days during which that index was positive. The MJO moved into Phase 5 and got locked in for a winter record duration while setting a preliminary December amplitude record for Phase 5. On January 1, the MJO remained in Phase 5 for the 15th consecutive day with an amplitude of 2.715 (RMM)