The pattern is common when La Nina -- the cooler than normal waters in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific -- influences upper air patterns across the southern United States.

CNN: U.S. pledges help for Texas farmers hit by record drought

Referring to the "Gathering Storm" used by Winston Churchill to describe the inter-war period, Gaffney warned of troubling geostrategic "weather patterns" for which the United States must be prepared.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Short-term weather patterns such as the one that affected the United States are poor indicators of global climate trends, however.

CNN: U.S. sees warmest March in recorded history, NOAA reports