I will not speak for Mike or the CPC, but I believe the long-term warming trend, as shown in this post, is a factor. That means that in the absence of any other signal, the long-term trend will tilt the odds in favor of above-normal temperatures in this region. I will also note that some models forecast a ridge off the East Coast as part of the negative phase of the Pacific-North American pattern that appears to be forced by La Nina and that would favor above-normal temperatures throughout the East Coast. This ridge is not always oriented in a way to favor a warm northeast during La Nina, so it's not a robust La Nina feature, but it's something we will keep an eye out for in the coming months.