For southwest US, it no longer matters whether its La Nina or El Nino. Abnormally high barometric pressure ridge over eastern Pacific, as well as frequent high pressure ridges over four corners states in the US, block winter weather well north of the southwest US year after year after year. There has to be a way to dislodge these pressure ridges to defeat the drought process, or else the southwest will see year after year drought winters, as well as lack of good summer monsoons, for eternity!