There's a stat out there too-if we get no snow or minimal snow in December, the winter will generally suck. Last year we had the foot in the middle of the month which led to a well above normal snowfall for the season....
it's early-snow is generally rare around here before xmas. I'll jump the ledge in Mid Jan-if it doesn't come by then, it's usually not coming...years like 06-07 are outliers in that regard where the cold really did come 2nd half
2013-14 2014-15 type patterns. Strong -EPO to deliver the cold. Atlantic blocking is good too-but if it's pacific origin air you're just trapping a crappy airmass and that's what I see with this at least for a couple of weeks