I know this is a different setup than the Jan 16th storm, but the 500 setup looks similar. Some of the differences of this setup I see are:
1) The ridge axis seems about 200 miles east.
2) Northern energy phases earlier it seems.
3) Not as negatively tilted as early (yet).
4) H500 trough position is similar, but the surface forms significantly further east.
I could be off here, anyone want to chime in?
I have a good feeling about this one, though.