When the old GFS gets taken offline soon we're honestly going to be down to 2 semi-reliable models (Euro and UKMET). GEPS seem better but IDK if they're any better than the GEFS.
It would be fun to see the city drop below zero but no one should be rooting for what the models are showing after the storms. I experienced -20 in Ithaca in February 2014 (no wind, fortunately) and it was insanely cold. If you didn't wear goggles your eyes would instantly water from the cold and start to freeze shut.
18z GFS is back to the big bomb for the 20th.
E: And it follows it up with a redeveloping clipper on the 22nd and another big coastal for the 26th. Active, to say the least.
Agreed, similarities and analogs are helpful but no two patterns will ever be completely alike and as we all know tiny changes can make huge differences downstream.
That's what I always come back to in these discussions. The modern age of weather analysis and forecasting hasn't been around long enough to provide sufficient data to make solid rules for every situation or circumstance.
The Para and maybe NAM are pretty much the only things going for us right now.
On the plus side, the GFS, Para, Euro, and CMC are all showing a big storm for next weekend (although the CMC and Euro aren't quite in range for our area).