It started out as a cold winter. Seems like the Pacific tropical jet stream failed to calm down in early January like is does most winters. Two things happened as a result. California was slammed with moisture laden storms and mild Pacific air kept the Arctic air locked to the north.
My take is NOAA got lucky, as this is not the typical La Niña winter they were forecasting. Private mets calling for cold had it right at first, but missed the strong jet influence from the Pacific that became the main factor this winter.
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