Oceanic

Siding with the 2007 Farmers’ Almanac rather than forecasts released recently by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and EarthSat Energy Weather, AccuWeather.com Chief Long-Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi said Wednesday that he expects the 2006-2007 winter to be cooler than normal along the high-energy-demand East Coast and eastern Gulf Coast.

September was the first month with cooler-than-average temperatures since May 2005, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported Monday. The average temperature for the Lower 48 states of the U.S. was 0.7 degrees below the 20th century average of 65.4 degrees.

Scientists with the Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Wednesday said ocean temperatures have “increased remarkably” in the equatorial Pacific in the last two weeks, and these El Niño conditions are likely to continue into early 2007.

In updating its late-May hurricane forecast for the Atlantic in 2006, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported Tuesday that while it has reduced the number of storms it expects for the season, it still expects a more active than normal season.

In updating its late-May hurricane forecast for the Atlantic in 2006, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported Tuesday that while it has reduced the number of storms it expects for the season, it still expects a more active than normal season.

Mimicking last Monday’s market response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s bullish Atlantic hurricane forecast, July natural gas on Wednesday jumped higher following the Colorado State University (CSU) forecast team’s updated expectations (see related story). Prompt-month natural gas Wednesday reached a high of $6.450 before settling at $6.384, up 26.1 cents on the day.

Even though the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) mostly reiterated what has been being said for months, the government agency’s updated 2006 Atlantic hurricane forecast for a “very active” year was enough to spark a short-covering rally in natural gas futures on Monday. As a result, June natural gas, which expires Friday, ended up closing back above $6 at $6.276, up 31.4 cents on the day.

While this year’s Atlantic hurricane season is expected to pale in comparison to last year’s extraordinary display, the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced Monday it still is expecting “a very active hurricane season” in 2006, adding that individuals should make preparations to better protect their lives and livelihoods.

If U.S. temperatures during the first quarter of this year are any indicator, many regions of the country could be in for a long and hot summer. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average temperature for the contiguous United States for March (based on preliminary data) was warmer than average.