Planalytics Week In Review: Week Ending 5/10/08

Weekend Review: The weather was highly variable over the Mothers Day weekend. The storm that dumped flooding rains across the mid-Atlantic on Friday moved into Eastern Canada on Saturday and was replaced by drier, but cooler conditions. The dry weather extended into the South and Midwest on Saturday, an overall pleasant day. Much of the West experienced warm 70s and 80s. By Mothers Day, a disturbance in the Northern Rockies moved into the Plains spreading periods of heavy rain eastward across the Midwest. Severe weather pummeled much of the South with deadly tornadoes in Missouri, Oklahoma and eastward into Georgia. Moms in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and other Midwestern cities were met with a cool, mainly wet day. Although breezy and cool, the rain held off until late in the day along the East Coast. The Pacific Northwest and Western Canada experienced more storminess. However, most of the western U.S. was warm and pleasant, a real treat for Mom. With the exception of Texas to the U.S. Southwest, temperatures were cooler to a warm Mothers Day weekend last year.

Last Week: Early week, pleasant sunshine yet seasonably cooler temperatures followed the departing storm in the East. In fact, most of the U.S. began the week on the dry side with seasonably warm temperatures extending across most of the U.S.; Canada was cooler. However, a disturbance in Texas quickly gathered strength on Tuesday and became a heavy rain producer mid-week generating severe weather across parts of northern Texas and Oklahoma. The slow-moving system spread heavy rains as it moved eastward over the remainder of the week, with many locations from eastern Oklahoma into southern Ohio receiving over two inches. Temperatures warmed considerably ahead of the storm giving the East Coast pleasant warm weather. Afternoon readings in the low 80s were common as far north as New York City on Wednesday. That quickly changed as the storm made it to the East Coast late week, delivering a cool, blustery, and very wet Friday. Severe weather, to include several tornadoes in North Carolina, was reported. While California and the Southwest continued warmer than typical and dry, another storm system that had moved through the Pacific Northwest was in the Plains promising more heavy rains for the East.

Consumer Impact in the East/Mid-Western North America: While the fine, warm weather early to mid-week stimulated spring demand; it likely lagged what was a much warmer, dry week last year. Businesses selling Mothers Day related items experienced lower demand relative to last year.

Consumer Impact in the Western Portions of North America: While temperatures were warmer than typical, and the weather was rather dry, seasonal demand lagged the same week last year, which was significantly warmer.

©Planalytics, Inc.