All information/photos, courtesy of the NOAA El Niño in the
central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is expected to be a
dominant climate factor that will influence the December through
February winter weather in the United States, according to the
2009 Winter Outlook released by NOAA’s Climate Prediction
Center. Such seasonal outlooks are part of NOAA’s suite of
climate services. Highlights of the U.S. Winter Outlook
(December through February) include: * Warmer-than-average
temperatures are favored across much of the western and central
U.S., especially in the north-central states from Montana to
Wisconsin. Though temperatures may average warmer than usual,
periodic outbreaks of cold air are still possible. * Below-
average temperatures are expected across the Southeast and mid-
Atlantic from southern and eastern Texas to southern
Pennsylvania and south through Florida. * Above-average
precipitation is expected in the southern border states,
especially Texas and Florida. Recent rainfall and the prospects