12z EPS 500mb pattern looks quite nice heading toward mid month. Not seeing any signs of MJO phase 3-6 returning a Nina-like pattern yet. -AO (--AO?), -NAO, -EPO, +PNA. Trough axis over the eastern Plains/MS valley.
With any "good" pattern advertised at range, it doesn't mean we will score. But it means we at least have the CHANCE to score. When we have some SE death ridge and/or a blue ball over AK, it's a shut the blinds pattern and there's no chance. The pattern going forward, starting tomorrow really, and at least going through the ~14th (assuming things stay more or less the same) offers CHANCES. Some years we maximize our opportunities and others we really miss on. Jan '16 was our one good window that year and we maxed it out. The last few years, we've mostly not hit on our opportunities. Hopefully this year we can.