Temperature averages for this next heating season are expected to reflect a more west to east movement of weather systems across the United States with a tendency to favor high pressure in the west and low pressure in the east. This weather pattern typically supports above normal temperatures in the Pacific Coast States and into south Texas with a secondary area of warmer than normal temperatures in the Northern Plains. Below normal average temperatures are indicated for the Great Lakes, Ohio River Valley, eastern Tennessee River Valley and the western parts of New England. However, temperatures will not be much below normal for a long-term average in these states. Near normal temperature averages are forecast for elsewhere, especially in the New England and Mid Atlantic Coast cities, the Central and Southern Plains and Mississippi River Valley along with the interior West.

Precipitation is most likely to occur in areas favored by low pressure or the western end of high pressure, which means that the Rocky Mountain States, the Great Lakes States, and the Southeast States are forecast to be wet or snowy, for the most part. Near normal amounts of rain/snow are expected for the coastal areas of the Northeast and in the central U.S. Elsewhere, persistent high pressure and a mostly dry flow of air aloft will minimize the occurrence of precipitation in the Pacific Coast cities from Medford, OR southward and along the U.S. border with Mexico. v