Being in the deep south my interest usually starts in mid-November.
Historically much has been made of the warm October/cold winter theory.
That isn't going to happen this October but it proves that you can read anything into October about the following winter and probably justify any position to suit a cold winter outcome.
If the current rather blocked and cool set up exists in a month then we may have to look at it more seriously
Yes, it always amuses me how people try and argue that the weather we experience in one artificially created time period will result in a different weather type in another artifically created time period. "Warm Septembers are always followed by mild winters" etc...
The truth is, much research has been done on the matter, and it's always come out inconclusive or showing no correlation. If it was that easy, the weather would be nowhere near as interesting as it is.
Anyway with regards to the models, it's certainly looking very interesting. Sadly for cold lovers however, it's too early. It's a bit like getting the early signs of a perfect summer pattern in April. That said, it could be an indication as to where the atmosphere is going through the winter...