13-14 was the most severe winter on record at Detroit. 14-15 smashed records in the east while the midwest had the coldest Feb since 1875 or of all recorded history (depending on location). In 2019 a record smashing arctic blast hit the midwest, and it was record smashing during already what is the coldest part of the year. And in Feb 2021 Texas lost their shit when temp records broke by 20+ degrees in the Arctic blast. That is all less than a decade ago.
There is absolutely no reason to believe that when the ingredients are right the east won't have a brutally cold winter that's on par with other cold winters of the past few decades. And no, I'm NOT saying I think that happens this winter. And no, I'm not denying anything (ugh I hate that I even added that part in there, like it's mandatory on here when you talk of cold weather).