An intense high level atmospheric polar vortex developed during late winter. Strong positive arctic oscillation identifies the presence of the strong polar vortex. The polar vortex pattern caused extreme temperature the past 30 days in the U.S. BUT ALSO the excessive precipitation leading to early spring flooding.

If ENSO continues cooling into mid-year what would be the (ENSO) influence on Great Plains and South America precipitation pattern for February through May?

Continuing along the lines of using climate change as a tool to predict climate (versus just as an explanation of a recent climate extreme) lets take a look at wintertime precipitation patterns across the U.S. during El Nino since the epic 1997-98 episode as described by Dr. Olivia Kellner.

A tendency toward consolidation of anomalous warmth in both the surface and subsurface equatorial Pacific Ocean near and just east of the Dateline implies El Nino Modoki may be ahead for northern hemisphere winter 2018-19. Plentiful subsurface ocean warmth (also) indicates a conventional El Nino may evolve in 2019.