Winter Weather Predictions

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By Crysty Vaughan

Story Created: Oct 20, 2012 at 9:16 PM EDT

Story Updated: Oct 20, 2012 at 9:16 PM EDT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (CNN) - Want to get as far away from Winter as possible this year? Go West.

Government forecasters predicted the western half of the US can expect an unusually warm, dry winter.

Forecasters blame it on a fickle El Niño.

The Pacific weather system hasn't formed as expected, making the winter outlook less certain than in previous years.

Much of the Gulf coast will also see an unusually wet winter.

The rest of the country is a toss up.

The East Coast falls under the "equal chance" category, meaning it has an equal chance for "above, near or below normal" temperatures.