The main reason we are seeing east coast/WAR on the models is because a lot of energy is breaking off of the main vortex, dumping out west, and amplifying. Ofc it is also loading our nearby source region for cold, which has been a problem so far. If that vortex breaks down, then we play with fire as the flat Pac ridge will likely expand/strengthen, and we may end up with a mean trough out west anyway, and an increased likelihood of a SER. Ideally we get the Pac ridge displaced further NE towards AK, and build heights into the EPO domain. Fwiw, the extended GEFS does this around mid month, but the main Pac ridge is centered a bit too far west, so it has the trough mostly in the western US and a tendency for SER, but it doesn't look like it would be a fixture. The blocking is there, and more west based, so that would help. The pattern continues to look active, and despite the issues with the Pacific, there will be chances. Hopefully the end result doesn't resemble last winter lol.