Temperatures are likely to average lower than normal in western Europe from November to January,  Weather Services International (WSI) said on Monday.

Scandinavia and eastern Europe are likely to average warmer than normal, WSI said.   

"Based on all of the available evidence, we expect another winter with below-normal temperatures across the UK and the western half of the mainland, although not nearly as severe as last winter," said WSI Chief Meteorologist Todd Crawford.

"We expect the coldest weather to be early and late in the winter, with the potential for a very mild spell during the heart of winter."    

US-based WSI -- which in October 2009 accurately predicted Britain would see a very cold start to 2010 -- said that an unusually strong negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) was the main reason why it expects another cold winter this year.   

Although last January was one of the coldest in Britain on record, January 2011 looks likly to be milder than average after a cold end to 2010, WSI said.

Because most homes in Britain are heated with natural gas, demand in Europe's biggest gas market is largely driven by the weather, with wholesale gas prices often rising sharply in bitter cold spells.   

The NAO is a natural climate phenomenon that influences temperature and rainfall in Europe. A negative NAO points to cooler weather for northern Europe. - Reuters