I wanted to look at what type of blocking followed December +3.5 or greater daily AO readings like we just experienced.
I counted 9 Decembers when the AO rose this high and included the dates on which it occurred.
ftp://ftp.cpc.ncep.n...1.current.ascii
12/25/51......+3.5
Blocking developed during February and March of that season.
12/20/71....+3.8
JAN-FEB east based
12/21/75....+3.5
1/15-1/30 76
12/2/79 was the strongest December daily +AO reading that I could find coming in at a +5.0.