I honestly do not know what is driving the unusual weather pattern we are seeing this winter. I can say that what has been happening so far is actually a nearly textbook setup for El Nino (the opposite of La Nina). With a La Nina, the southern US should be dry, with the north central and especially the Canadian Prairies being colder than average. Perhaps the jetstream did not get the playbook! Or maybe the Detroit Lions Playbook! Ouch! Sorry Lions fans!