I was plenty specific enough:
January 2023 Outlook
January Analogs:1971, 1976, 1985, 1986,1996 2011, 2014, 2021, 2022
January is like to be consistent with climatology in that it will be the most consistently fierce month in that there is likely to be "storms and rumor of storms", to quote an old and wise weather weenie. It was mentioned that opportunities for a coupling of EPO/PNA style blocking with NAO blocking would be scarce this season, but if it is to occur, it will be this month, as evidenced by the January 2023 forecast H5 composite:
The recovery of the PNA from the RNA month of December is also evident in the ECMWF forecast:
Note the opportunity for cross polar flow and what will at times be frigid conditions. This will also be a month of great flux, which will likely couple with well above average N hemispheric SSTs and a surplus of water vapor owed to the submarine eruption of Hunga Tonga last January help to facilitate a large scale and perhaps generation storm opportunity. This event will be the signature storm of the season, and will have the potential to cripple travel over a widespread area for a time in a window between approximately January 6th-20th
This is the month that the mid Atlantic likely receives the bulk of its seasonal snowfall. January will be the inverse of December in that it will be biased more wintery earlier, but blocking should relinquish its grip and it should modify with flooding threats possible during a major thaw.
January 2023 Forecast Temp Anomalies:
1951-2010:
1991-2020:
January 2023 Forecast Precip Anomalies:
1951-2010:
1991-2020:
It would not be a surprise if precipitation was underestimated especially during the month of January in the analog composites, but also even during the season in general given the unique circumstances surrounding Hunga Tonga.