That snow shovel idling in the garage might see less use this winter. Forecasts show the upcoming winter will be warmer than average — about six-tenths to one-quarter of a degree warmer every day — with slightly higher odds for light precipitation, according to Matthew Rosencrans, head of forecast operations at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center. Even small changes in temperature can affect precipitation levels, river streamflows, acidic content in seawater and changes in the speed of evaporation, which can dry out the land surface in some regions, according to a 2011 report from the National Academy of Sciences. Rosencrans said the temperature increase will be undetectable for most. “It’s not really much humans are going to feel on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “But energy companies (and) ski resorts, they’ll have more days where they’re closer to freezing (temperature).” Energy companies might see a decrease in demand for home heating and
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