The Southeastern US can anticipate a wetter and cooler than normal winter. The most noticeable effect in the Southeast US relates to the lack of tropical strom formation in the Atlantic Ocean as seen in 1997. The active storm track is expected to continue throughout the southern US from California to Texas and eastward to the Atlantic coast. Expect this pattern to continue through the winter months. In other parts of the world the effects are more catastrophic.
Droughts are widespread in India, Southeast Asia, and especially Australia.
Forest fires are currently creating massive smog and haze conditions in this part of the world. Poor crop harvests lead to famine. In South America the mountains along the west coast receive more snow and rainfall than usual. Mudslides and avalanches are the result. Drier and PAGE 3 warmer than normal conditions will affect the northern and central US this winter, which may not be such a bad thing after all.