The AccuWeather.com Winter Storm Center today released its 2004-2005 Winter Forecast.
The Winter Forecast is highlighted by colder-than-normal temperatures expected over the East, including the Northeast, the region that accounts for 90 percent of the heating oil use in the U.S. Forecast maps can be viewed on AccuWeather.com.
Cold Weather May Start Early in the East
AccuWeather.com Winter Storm Center meteorologists are not only predicting colder-than-average temperatures over the East, but also perhaps an early start to winter in those areas. The average temperatures are expected to be at least two degrees below normal in an area that extends from southern Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire south to the Florida Panhandle, and as far west as southeast Ohio and eastern areas of Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. Temperatures of normal to one degree below normal are expected to the west of this area to the Mississippi River. A narrow band in the western Virginia and North Carolina mountains will average at least three degrees below normal.
"I believe that the Northeast will have a cold winter, and that is not good news for energy consumers in that area," said Joe Bastardi, AccuWeather.com Winter Storm Center Expert Senior Meteorologist. Bastardi coordinated the Winter Season Forecast.
The nation from the Great Plains westward is expected to have temperatures that average slightly above normal. There will be an area of temperatures that average at least two degrees above normal in eastern Oregon, Idaho, northern Nevada, southwest Montana, much of Wyoming and north-central Colorado.
Above-Normal Snow for Southern, Central Appalachians
The AccuWeather.com Winter Storm Center has good news for ski areas in the central and southern Appalachians, where snowfall this winter is expected to be 125% of normal. Normal to slightly-above normal snowfall is expected in southern New England, southeast New York State, New Jersey, the much of Pennsylvania, much of West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
Normal to slightly-below normal snowfall is expected in the Ohio Valley, mid-Mississippi Valley, and central Plains. The eastern Great Lakes and northern New England are also expecting normal to slightly-below normal snowfall, as is the Pacific Northwest. Snowfall totals of 25 percent below normal are expected in the upper Midwest, western Great Lakes, upper Mississippi Valley and northern Great Plains. Snowfall total in the Rockies should be normal to slightly-below, except for Montana, where snowfall totals are expected to be 25 percent below normal.
AccuWeather.com Winter Storm Center meteorologists note that snowfall totals can greatly influenced by one storm, since a single storm can drop a significant percentage of the winter's snow total in one or two days. |
