Last May was the warmest since 2004, due in large part to the exceptionally warm weather during the week prior to Mother’s Day. Some sales gains for outdoor living categories were up in the 10% to 20% range early in the month, but those gains were given back with the weak Memorial Day. The holiday brought the month’s worst weather, trending 2.2 degrees colder than the year before with precipitation up 124%.

This year, May will face the lingering effects of La Niña with cooler and wetter weather across much of the nation especially at the beginning and end of the month. This is a very unfavorable factor for both Mother’s Day and Memorial Day sales. The second week of the month will be the most favorable period in an otherwise challenging month. The exceptions to this will be across the southern Plains and Florida where warm and dry conditions will be favorable for pool, patio and deck categories such as furniture, grills and other outdoor accessories.