With regards to the GFS, we're solidly above average until next Friday when a strong shortwave builds down from the Rockies and digs a trough into the Southeast. This supposedly is enough to break down the ridge and kick it East. After the storm threat and a brief cool down the ridge reloads again by Mid Month. In any event, I'm highly skeptical of the storm threat next weekend. The Euro digs the energy into the Southwest and that would create a big plains cutter and reload the ridge. We could end up 20-30 degrees above normal by the second week of January if the Euro ends up being correct. And yes, any cool down would be brief, maybe 3-5 days of seasonable temps.