NEW YORK, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices fell on Monday after the forecast for a warmer weather in northeast U.S. offset a falling dollar.

    Oil retreated after it is forecasted that temperatures in eastern cities like New York and Boston will get higher later this week. A cold snap in the northeast area, which accounts for about four-fifths of total U.S. heating oil consumption, had sent energy prices higher since December.

    Crude futures earlier touched a 15-month high of 83.95 U.S. dollars a barrel, the highest trading price since Oct. 14, 2008. A weak dollar, which lost ground against the euro on Monday, had increased the crude's appeal as an alternative investment.

    Light, sweet crude for February delivery fell 23 cents to settle at 82.52 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

    In London, Brent crude for February delivery fell 54 cents to 80.83 dollars a barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange.