Assuming model trends are in line with reality, it could be supposed that Phil has been right all along, and we have experienced some kind of an underlying regime shift. The problem is, he also predicted the hottest summer in US history, which is also accurate. During July, much of the heat was centered over the west. Now this month it looks to be displaced to the NE over Canada, killing the Baffin vortex and thereby allowing all this plentiful GOA blocking to mean anything for us on the westside.
A cool August would be telling, and unexpected. Most would nod their heads if I told them that August 2011, 13 years ago, was the last such cooler than normal month for this region. But August 2000 is the last time we really avoided any real heat during the month, as we were once able to do. Good news for July is that we've had a handful of Timothy-sized JULY STINKERS for the eye-five corridor. 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2001 and 2000 all had us tearfully pissing our swimming trunks.