Let's start by looking at the QBO. The QBO plays a big part in terms of zonal patterns. When the QBO is in it's easterly phase it means less westerly winds. When the QBO is in a westerly phase it generally means a strengthing of westerly winds. Think of it like a clock. This year the QBO is a westerly phase which means the zonal winds are in a westerly state and zonal winds become stronger, it flavours a milder winter. 

Let's have a look at the sea surface temperature.

sea surface temperature plays another big part. In terms of the weather. It doesn't tell us what the weather is going to do now but long term it can help. Our part of the ocean which drives our weather is called the Atlantic ocean or the NAO in terms means North Atlantic oscillation. When the NAO is positive it means more Atlantic activity, like low pressure systems (winds and rain) mild and storms. When the NAO is negative it means less storms and less unsettled and more chance of colder weather in the winter months. In this model it shows a positive NAO which again means more storms are likely this winter if nothing changes. 

Snow cover is another good model to use. It can tell us how strong the polar vortex is and how much cold is in the poles. The stronger the polar vortex the stronger the zonal westerly winds are. At this stage it is too early to tell what the polar vortex is going to do. 

Hurricane can give us a lof of information in terms of weather. The more Hurricane we have the more high pressure builds over the poles. In terms means northern blocking (cold spells). Hurricane season this year is looking less actived and again less chance of northern blocking. 

The polar vortex is a bit similar to snow cover really. It can show how strong the zonal pattern is and this can make the strong jet stream strengthen in terms again means storms, rain and wind. 

Finally solar activity. There are 3 phases of solar activity one is solar maximum, two is solar neutral and three is solar minimum. Solar maximum see's more warmer winters and solar minimum see's more colder winters and solar neutral see's more uncertain winters. We are now heading into solar maximum which increases the chances of milder winters.