I wouldn't go by what the anomalies are verbatim. There are so many factors outside of whether region 3.4 is -0.7C or - 1.2C. I care more about where the anomalies are, where the forcing is in the tropics, and what if any blocking. The magnitude of anomalies matter to a point, but I think we give those numbers too much weight. Of course if we are talking something -0.5C vs -3C that is another story.