Warmer Than Normal Winter Foreseen

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Warmer weather for most of the country is the outlook for the coming winter, a top government forecaster said Tuesday. <br/><br/>But while many will welcome the mild temperatures, the

Tuesday, October 9th 2007, 10:02 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Warmer weather for most of the country is the outlook for the coming winter, a top government forecaster said Tuesday.

But while many will welcome the mild temperatures, the winter forecast also calls for drier than normal conditions in the Southwest and Southeast, regions already struggling with drought conditions, said Michael Halpert, head of forecast operations at the Climate Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Md.

The northern Plains and Northwest are expected to have near normal temperatures in winter _ December through February _ with the rest of the country warmer than normal, he said.

Wetter than normal weather is anticipated in the Pacific Northwest and in the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, according to the outlook from the CPC, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.