Expect a very warm winter across much of the U.S., with only the Northwest receiving average or above average cold and snow, says www.AccuWeather.com.

That lack of precipitation could be problematic for the drought-stricken South, however, says Joe Bastardi, chief long-range forecaster.

“November into December and March and April will be closest to what we consider winter weather, with the chance of cold and snowy conditions. But once we're into the heart of winter, from mid and late December into February, we may see one of the top-10 warmest winters ever recorded for the southeastern U.S.,” Bastardi says, adding that the core of the warm weather will be centered over the Tennessee Valley and the Carolinas.

“More than 75% of the days this winter may have temperatures above normal in most of the nation, southeast of a line that runs from the Great Lakes to the Southwest. Only the Pacific Northwest should experience cooler-than-normal temperatures,” Bastardi says.