A couple thoughts about those weather weenies in the east:
1. They're speaking more like politicians and less like scientists by latching onto a small thread of truth and making a bigger deal out of that by ignoring more dominant factors/signals. Or:
2. Having a pattern break after 2-3 weeks is expected. It would be like saying that at some point tomorrow afternoon it'll be 2 o'clock. They sound important. And when there is a cold snap--even if it's transitory lasting only 2-3 days--they can claim a victory.
As for next week: My guess is 5cm of snot by the 13th out in the valley followed by the westerlies breaking through as the Pacific dumps a went slog on us. As much as I salivated over the 12z GFS op, my logical, Vulcan side is saying, "Forget winter tires, get the Anusol."