Report: Warm weather for 2007-08 winter

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Nov. 14 (UPI) -- All current meteorological signs indicate that the 2007-08 winter season should become one of the warmest in the United States' history, AccuWeather.com said.

A release from the online forecasting group said that current weather patterns in the East and Great Lakes area are consistent with the initial predictions for this winter, that had colder conditions during the early part of the season before warmer temperatures took over.

AccuWeather.com Chief Long-Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi said the warmer weather would definitely help ease U.S. citizens' financial woes in relation to fluctuating fuel oil and natural gas prices.

"This winter will be warmer from the Plains to the east coast, where more people live, and will remain warm through the months during which consumers typically use the most fuel energy" he said. "So, to most Americans this winter will be warmer than normal, warmer than last winter, and overall a more consumer-friendly winter for those buying fuel and gas."

This winter's warmest month should be January for most of the United States, said Bastardi, leading to a predicted 15 percent to 20 percent drop in fuel usage for most U.S. homes.