Milder Winter Forecast Amid Talks On Private Forecasts
Federal forecasters expect a winter colder than normal but not as severe as last year's. NOAA official Edward S. Epstein testified before a Senate panel that long-range forecasts are unreliable and odds of a repeat of last winter are about 30 to 1. The northeast is likely to be colder, the southwest milder, with uncertain outlooks for the Northwest and Southeast. Private forecasts sparked debate as energy officials discuss evaluating non government predictions for planning energy shortages.