The 500mb displayed is exactly what you look expect with a strong borderline east-base super El nino. The forcing out west though a curve ball & yet had an east-base result. This was a very difficult forecast with how abnormal so many factors were.
I think the late streghtening of the El Nino instead of an early peak was the controlling factor when all is said & done.
I'm so excited for another LA Nina while the PDO is already strongly negative. We might give 2011-12 a run for its money on a warm, sucky winter. If 500mb pattern is similar to that we no doubt will be warmer. 1973-74 has to be a top analog though. Next Spring severe weather might be through the roof.
Wish we could get 2-3 consecutive neutral ENSO's. π