WSI Winter Forecast Continues to Call for Warm Temperatures in the East in December and Most of January, Cooler-than-Normal Temperatures by February

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For Immediate Release

WSI Winter Forecast Continues to Call for Warm Temperatures in the East in December and Most of January, Cooler-than-Normal Temperatures by February

WSI issues an update of special interest to energy traders

BILLERICA, MASSACHUSETTS, Dec. 4 -/E-Wire/-- WSI Corporation today issued the end-of-November update to its seasonal forecast for the upcoming winter season (December through February). WSI expects the period to be warmer-than-normal in the major population centers along the East Coast and Florida (e.g., Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami) as well as in the Southwest (e.g., Phoenix). Cooler-than-normal temperatures are expected in the Plains (e.g., Minneapolis, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas), Great Lakes states (e.g., Detroit, Cleveland), the Pacific Northwest (e.g., Seattle, Portland) and coastal sections of California (e.g., San Francisco, Los Angeles).

WSI expects the following monthly trends:

* In December, warmer-than-normal temperatures are expected across the East Coast states, the Gulf Coast states and parts of the Southwest. Cooler-than-normal temperatures are expected in the northern and central Plains and most of the western half of the United States. * In January, warmer-than-normal temperatures are expected over most of the country, with the exception of the southern Plains (e.g., Texas, Oklahoma). * In February, we expect sharply cooler temperatures in the northern two-thirds of the United States including the Northeast. Major cities along the California coast will also be cooler-than-normal . Warmer-than-normal temperatures will be confined to the Southwest, southern Plains, and Southeast.

According to WSI seasonal forecaster Dr. Todd Crawford, "The expectation of warmer-than-normal temperatures in the major cities in the East is different from the CPC outlook, in which no forecast was made for the East. We do agree with CPC, however, in that we expect warmer-than-normal temperatures in the Southwest and in Florida.'

WSI was one of the few weather information services to accurately predict a warm November in the Northeast and in the United States as a whole, and their three-month seasonal forecasts have been skillful for 7 out of the last 8 periods. A skillful seasonal forecast is defined as one that is closer to what is actually observed than a forecast using the 30-year average temperature.

WSI, which provides customized weather information to energy traders, issues its Seasonal Weather Advisories twice monthly. The first is made available to WSI subscribers two days before the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) issues its seasonal forecasts. The second is sent to customers toward the end of the month. WSI's next forecast, which will cover the period December-February, will be issued on November 13th.

Effects in the Marketplace

The Winter 2001/2002 outlook by WSI certainly paints a less bullish picture for the December-January period in the Northeast - compared to last year's frigid, record cold temperatures that sent natural gas and power prices soaring. In contrast, this winter, ESAI expects power and gas prices to reflect the milder season, and be much less volatile. Cooler temperatures in February would mean stronger prices toward the end of the winter in the Northeast. ESAI expects that the below-normal temperatures in December, and later in February, in California and the Pacific Northwest will mean stronger power prices. During periods of high demand, the Pacific Northwest will most likely need to rely on power imports from Canada and southern WSCC in order to spare and build up hydro-generation resources ahead of the Summer 2002 cooling season.

WSI Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Landmark Communications, is one of the world's largest suppliers of weather forecast services, real-time weather data, imagery, and programming to customers in the energy, broadcast, aviation and government markets. More information about WSI can be found at www.wsi.com.

Since its inception in 1984, Energy Security Analysis Inc. (ESAI) has been dedicated to monitoring, analyzing, and synthesizing information about world-wide energy markets. Tapping the talents of its senior-level staff, ESAI provides clients with unparalleled insight into where the markets have been and where they are headed. ESAI provides ongoing systematic analysis of energy prices in the oil, natural gas, and energy markets. For more information on ESAI services, see www.esai.com.

http://http://www.esai.com

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