First of all, I think some of the guidance exaggerated the blocking...especially a couple of days ago. Secondly, -NAO doesn't matter if your arctic flow is cut-off, which it will be with the lower heights building over AK to counter the Bering ridge. Finally, and this goes along with #1....I think guidance not only exaggerated the amplitude of the blocking, but the extent to which it will retrograde into a favorable position, and east-based "thumb-ridges" are far less impactful for the east.