All meteorologists are noticing a strong cooling in the eastern Pacific off the coast of Peru. Usually this means significant changes for The Southwestern U.S rainfall pattern for the Winter season in 2011. But with recent heat waves the weather patterns have been having a bipolar effect for Southern CA. This 2010-11 winter may be different from a normal typical LA NINA pattern.
Courtesy of NASA : This is an example of a typical LA NINA Pattern for the Western U.S
What is LA NINA you asked? LA NINA is cooling of eastern Pacific Ocean. The trade winds shift direction sending the jet stream to the Pacific Northwest.