April starts warmer, but turns cool and wet

April starts warmer, but turns cool and wet

Jack Grum -- Casual Living, 4/1/2010 12:00:00 AM

April 2009 trended slightly warmer and wetter for the nation as a whole. Cooler temperatures than the year prior dominated through the third week of the month.

A record-breaking heat-wave late in the month brought more than 100 new record high temperatures to many cities in the East as temperatures climbed into the 80s and 90s, a positive for outdoor categories. Despite an increase in precipitation over the prior year, snowfall decreased, which was another positive for sales of outdoor products.

This month will trend slightly warmer than April 2009, with precipitation similar to last year’s experience. Warmer trends during the first two weeks of the month will benefit sales of outdoor products across a good portion of the nation.

Cooler trends will take over for the second half of the month with the coldest late April period in five years, a negative for outdoor categories. Expect colder and wetter trends along the East Coast at the end of this month to be unfavorable for store traffic.

Weather Trends International
Jack Grum, vice president
610-807-3586
jgrum@wxtrends.com
www.wxtrends.com