La Nina 'On Steriods' Portends Long Drought

Southwest Could Be Dry For Decades, If Weather Prediction Is Correct Climate shifts could lead to a persistent La Nina-type condition in the Pacific, which would starve the American Southwest for decades. Yes, decades. The drought currently afflicting the region is bad enough -- with wildfires blooming and water resources scarce. Imagine it stretching on for 50 or 60 years, as has happened in the past. How realistic is this? Should we really be worried? Well, it's worrisome enough that the Los Angeles Times, one of the nation's most well respected newspapers, gave significant space in an editorial to the possibility. It would do nothing less than alter -- perhaps end -- the fabric of the society in that part of the country.