Although Portugal and California are similar in their basic climate (e.g. both have a Mediterranean climate), what happens to one in response to an El Nino does not at all necessarily have bearing on what happens in to the other. Further, recent rains in Portugal have little influence on the ENSO situation. ENSO may affect rainfall, but the rainfall does not feedback onto ENSO in any substantial manner. Of course, Portugal has much less of a late winter impact from ENSO than does southern California.