Unfortunately we're at the point where nationally we are challenging for a new record literally almost every month now. August may do it again, and the King Kong Megatron NiƱo forcing hasn't even really kicked in yet.
The deck gets a little more stacked against cold outcomes every year and the anomalously cool pockets are generally shriveling up more and more, getting increasingly localized. It may seem reductive but that will continue to be the overwhelmingly biggest existential issue for us when it comes to achieving cold.