US: October 9, 2008


HOUSTON - The winter of 2008-09 will be the coldest and snowiest in years in the eastern United States, threatening homeowners with back-breaking heating bills, private forecaster AccuWeather predicted on Wednesday.


"Given this economic environment, the winter will push some homeowners to the brink," AccuWeather long-range forecaster Joe Bastardi said, noting the credit crisis and high fuel prices.

Winter elsewhere in the nation should be easier this year than last, with the Midwest getting less snow and the West being mostly warmer but possibly getting more snow, AccuWeather predicted. (Reporting by Bruce Nichols; Editing by John Picinich)


REUTERS NEWS SERVICE