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Hernando Today

Dry Winter Expected

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: November 21, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The area has not escaped the threat of another drought.

In fact, it is expected to become reality again by the end of the winter.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced Thursday it was predicting a drier-than-normal winter for the Southeast, including Florida.

"It does look like a drought could develop in the Tampa area," said Michael Halpert, the deputy director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

The annual Winter Outlook predicts the meteorological winter, which lasts from December through February.

The Climate Prediction Center also is calling for warmer-than-normal temperatures for the central part of the U.S.

There is no strong indication the upcoming winter will be cooler or warmer than normal for Tampa and the rest of Florida, Halpert said.

"It's definitely going to be dry, but temperature-wise, it doesn't look like there's any strong symbol showing it will be cool or warm," he said.

Meteorologists have admitted this winter is a difficult one to predict due to the absence of La Nina or El Nino in the Pacific Ocean. They have had to look at climate patterns over the Arctic and North Atlantic regions to anticipate the upcoming weather trends across the country, according to a NOAA media release.

The Winter Outlook does not include a snowfall forecast. Such a forecast is dependent upon winter storms, which are not predictable more than several days in advance.

While the tropical storm season brought rain to the region, it was not enough to prevent another drought from occurring, said Don Ruths, of the Florida Division of Forestry.

"We're not in a drought right now, but the conditions are dry enough where we're at the tipping point," he said.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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