imo this year is a mix of a weaker 1973 and 1998 to an extent
and we did have a aleutian/GOA low for dec
the slowed IO forcing is from the large +IOD collapse - which(the +IOD) is a good sign of nino coupling. it coupled extremely quickly as well; so thats why we saw more of a nina esque pattern despite the super nino trying to fight back
the record -PDO not even coming close to flipping is nonetheless surprising, ive heard some met students/mets talk about the decline of shipping aerosol emissions playing a role in maintaining the -PDO despite the nino