RALEIGH (AP) ó Forecasters say winter in North Carolina could be wetter and colder than the past few seasons despite a Southern outlook for drier and warmer conditions.
National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Orrock said Thursday the state will likely see a decrease in global weather patterns that have made past winters warmer and drier.
Orrock said forecasters examined weather records for past years when conditions were similar to the start of this winter. He said in those years the temperatures were colder and there was more precipitation.
He said the last active winter was in 2004, when about 2 feet of snow fell in Asheboro.
The National Weather Service on Thursday released its annual national winter weather outlook for December through February.

On the Net:
Winter Outlook: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20081120ówinteroutlook.html