A little while back, I posted how the PDO has a unusually high correlation with EPO in October (-PDO favors +EPO). It was a 75% correlation, going back to 1948. Now LR models are developing a +EPO for at least early October (this is a cold H5 anomaly vs the central pacific warmth of -pdo).
I'm just saying.. it's working as a forecasting tool, whether the driver or not..