A warmer than expected January?

Two weeks ago there were indications that the weather pattern would flip to a drastically colder one but that hasn't happened yet. In fact the first week of December looks to be fairly average. We might get to 50 degrees on Monday and cool down before getting to the mid to upper 40's for next weekend.
Here's the NWS forecast discussion:

.LONG TERM /Tuesday through Saturday/...
Issued at 222 AM EST Sat Dec 29 2018

Fairly uneventful long term period of the forecast expected as
large surface high pressure axis looks to shut down precipitation
chances across the area. An upper level wave may move through the
area Wednesday night into Thursday, but a very dry column will
preclude any precipitation chances with this feature.

Temperatures through the period will be relatively seasonable,
perhaps climbing a bit above normal late in the period as upper
level flow becomes more zonal/weakly anticyclonic over the region.