The EPS has been pretty steadfast on that idea, and your early concerns seem warranted at this point. GEFS had been hinting at ridge development in the EPO/WPO regions, but has since backed off and the 0z GEFS run arguably looked worse than the EPS at the end of the run. Doesn't look like we will get enough help up top to mitigate the unfavorable Pac either. Generally a weakly negative to neutral AO/NAO look in the LR.
In monitoring mode now. Still very possible this ends up being a fairly transient period. I know the reality of my general climo, so I never expect much frozen in December anyway, outside of a year like 2009 when it was clear we had a textbook pattern emerging.