The Pacific has basically ruined our Winter and theres a pretty simple explanation if ya can follow me. OHweather did a good job of explaining the MJO, but he didn't mention the consistent forcing thats been present for the past 4-6wks displaced just East of the DL right around 140-160W and this, in turn, has allowed the mean trough to remain off shore across the N.ATL for the same amt of time, and its not changing. If the forcing I'm talking about had been displaced the other way, then we'd be sitting pretty but thats the weather and perhaps the wicked drought conditions across Australia have had an effect across the Trop Pac, who knows! Hawaii has had a trough over them for the past 6 weeks and usually its to their East, but not this yr. Not saying it can't or won't snow, I'm just saying those who were hoping on a pattern change, including JB, have to wait a couple to a few weeks longer. I never really see the MJO getting to phase 8- 1 or 2 but it does get into 7 briefly so unless the Trop Pac changes, and does so quickly, then I don't think Winter makes an appearance the whole season and when it did in Nov, it was Fall and go look where the forcing was in Nov, lol!