September weather brings mixed promises

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 9/1/2012 2:00:00 AM

Last September, temperatures trended the fourth warmest in more than 20 years, driven largely by warmth in the West.
     The first taste of fall arrived during mid-September in the East as a significant cool down took place. Precipitation was the second greatest in more than 20 years and much of the wetness was attributed to a soggy Northeast, where both Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee brought historic flooding to parts of the region. In the nation's West, outdoor categories should have done well due to warmer weather, but cooler and very wet weather in the East presented limited outdoor product opportunities.
     This month will usher in a change toward warmer weather in the Central states, while cooler year-over-year weather dominates the West and Northeast. On the other hand, drier weather in the Northeast will be beneficial for outdoor living categories.
     Labor Day weekend should be fairly warm across much of the United States and much drier across the East, which will benefit outdoor products. Look for less favorable weather in the West this year with cooler and wetter weather, especially in the Northwest.