I think New England will do fine the second half.

Hard to call any winter that produces lowland highs near 20 a dud anyway...yes, yes, I know it didn't snow everywhere.

If it weren’t for the complete lack of a STJ (sorry, SoCal) and incorrect seasonal timing for eastern cold, this winter’s pattern would match well with some of the moderate niño composites. New England getting screwed again in favor of Mid-Atlantic basically only happens in El Niño winters.

My sister is between the Palisades evacuation zone, and the Woodley fire to the north. The Woodley fire is moving south towards her. Firefighters are hoping they can stop it at Burbank Avenue a half mile from her house in Encino. They have not had an evacuation warning, yet…

This winter is also going as bad as any Niño ever does for the lowlands. At the risk of completely jinxing it, I think next winter is very unlikely to be any worse regardless of ENSO.