Just for reference, here's Oct 2023, Oct 1997, and December 1997. The whole comparison is nonsense because of interference in the signal with subseasonal variability. Arguably Dec 1997 had weaker VP than Oct 2023 (tho positioned differently)! pic.twitter.com/y0jjAiKFVv

— Paul Roundy (@PaulRoundy1) November 9, 2023