North, West US can look to a cold winter this year

The Commodity Weather Group has released its latest forecast for winter 2010-2011 for its energy clients Monday morning. This year is expected to be the warmest winter since 2006-2007 for those areas but the West and North may be colder.

That's good news for those in the U.S. when it comes to heating bills with the forecast saying it will be 29 percent warmer from December through February. On the United States East Coast, the Southern region and the Midwest the demand for heating should be reduced. It is expected that in the Western U.S., especially in the Pacific Northwest and western Canada that heating needs may be increased. Last year the South and the East saw more snowfall and cold than usual. This winter the North and the West will be the primary targets for winter weather. There is a developing strong La Nina in the waters of the central Tropical Pacific. It is thought by CWG that this could be one of the strongest La Nina events on record. "While the Midwest and Northeast have seen cold winters during strong La Nina events, the confluence of many factors appears to argue against this," explains CWG President and meteorologist Matt Rogers in a press release. "Our team will be monitoring these key factors very closely this autumn for any indications that may change expectations."