A few days ago, we heard about the Central Pacific ridge correlates to a death knell for winter. Now we are talking about too much blocking and cold and dry. Times have changed!
Well, let's look at the bright side: Hopefully this January won't be as tropical as January 2006. Or January 1950. Or, worst yet, January 1932. I've read somewhere that mosquitoes were swarming in January 1932!