SAN FRANCISCO -- The southwestern US will continue to struggle through drought conditions this winter, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted Thursday in its outlook for the coming winter. Meanwhile, a warmer and drier-than-normal ...

There are "enhanced odds" for colder-than-normal temperatures in December, January and February, according to NOAA. The official outlook says areas with enhanced odds include the upper Mississippi valley and the far western Great Lakes, which includes Minnesota, the Dakotas and Wisconsin.

Much of the southern half of the United States is likely to see a warmer, drier winter than usual, while the northwest could be cooler and wetter, according to a preview released this week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center.