That shouldn’t even be needed if it were real but unknown. But I think there is too much concentration on isolated records rather than on the overall picture.
Remember last winter we got some awesomely low freezes as well. Maybe all the unused heat is getting uncorked now.
The system is massively complex and anything can happen including a lag. But being that they know the Earths climate exactly, it will be simple. Put your money where your mouth is... and if you are wrong...