The issue for me is not that we don't have enough time to trend back, as it is still very close, it's more the fast flow that has not relented all year and we are finally seeing the effects. If this was 2011 I wouldn't worry at all.
Basically the SE ridge that is unbeatable and pumped up this storm suddenly becomes weak. Brooklyn WX was likely correct in saying it's not the SE ridge flexing it's nothing more than an amplifying system pumping up heights not a super ridge that apparently is doing nothing now.