I forecasted slightly above normal snowfall with a midseason punt...its not as uncommon as you think...we did it two years ago, too. TBH, if you are going to punt a third of the season and still do well snowfallwise, the middle portion is the segment to punt bc we have the most margin for error climowise with regard to snowfall at that point. In other words, mid winter is when we are most likely to BS our way to some snow despite an awful pattern...which is the key to good seasons. We never go wall-to-wall synoptic nirvana.
As far as the "one event" caveat goes.. go back throughout history and subtract the largest event from all of the seasonal tallies...it would significantly alter the overall tenor of most seasons....such is the peril of avaeraging 60" and not 160"-