April Brings a Mixed Bag of Weather Trends

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 4/1/2012 2:00:00 AM

Last year resulted in the seventh warmest April in more than 19 years, with a classic springtime temperature pattern of cooler weather in the North and warmer weather in the South.
     Very warm weather across the Southeast and South Central region would have been favorable for outdoor categories. Rivers in the Midwest and Tennessee and Ohio Valleys swelled as precipitation was the most in more than 19 years, a negative for outdoor living categories. Many of the same places that dealt with flooding were also pummeled by devastating severe weather, an additional negative for outdoor products.
     Temperatures for this month will trend cooler across the South and Mid-Atlantic, while the Plains states, northern New England, and the West will trend warmer than last year. Precipitation will trend wetter across the South Central states, but remember that last year was abnormally dry, so wetter trends will not necessarily be a negative for outdoor categories. Much of the East and Rocky Mountains will trend drier than last year, decreasing the flood threat this year and acting as a positive for outdoor living category demand.