Regardless of the pattern or state of any index, at the end of the day you need the shortwave dust to settle favorably, and it has not. This pattern has been flawed, but it very easily could have been a good stretch with one break or two. I don't think the NAO had anything to do with the fact that the southwest energy has always ejected at the most inopportune times, and the shortwave spacing has always been unfavorable...much of the latter is due to la nina IMO......active train of Pacific SWs increases the chances of having wave spacing be a prevalent problem throughout the season. Of course, now we have a pretty stout and static RNA, which makes it very difficult for the N stream to amplify in the east.