Planalytics June Review - The Arrival of Summer is the Warmest in Over 12 Years

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Planalytics FlashWeather Plus - June 28, 2010

The Arrival Of Summer 2010 Is The Warmest In Over 12 Years.

Weekend Review (26-27 June 2010):

• After a brief respite late week, the intense heat and humidity built northward from the steamy South back into the Midwest, Northeast, and eastern Canada. Temperatures trended above normal again into the 90s along with uncomfortable humidity levels. Heat index readings exceeded 100°F in cities such as Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York City, Omaha, Des Moines, Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Richmond, VA.
• The intense conditions dominated most of the U.S. ensuring strong demand for summer categories. Heat index readings in the South exceeded 110F, driving the need for cold drinks, A/C, swimwear, and sun care. When consumers were out, many were in air-conditioned malls, movie theaters, indoor entertainment centers, or seeking relief at the pool or beach.
• Temporary relief came in the form of occasional showers and thunderstorms, some severe, through the Plains and Midwest.
• Record daily rainfall amounts occurred in Oshkosh, WI (2.13 inches), Des Moines, IA (1.76 inches), La Crosse, WI (1.65 inches), and Marquette, MI (1.11 inches).
• The primary storm track remained in place along the U.S.-Canadian border. A disturbance made its way west to east across the Canadian Prairies, northern Plains and Midwest producing strong thunderstorms. Cooler temperatures and less humid conditions behind the front brought relief.
• Near normal temperatures were focused north of the border with readings much cooler to last year in most locations, curbing summer demand.
• A warmer trend was also the rule in most of the West to include southern California; even the Pacific Northwest experienced temperatures near to slightly above normal.
• A developing tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico became the first named tropical storm, Alex, early Saturday. It is currently exiting the Yucatan Peninsula and is expected to move west-northwest into the western Gulf of Mexico. Forecast details are below.

Last Week (week ending 06/26/2010):

• For reference, last week last year (2009) was the warmest late-June period in 7 years in the U.S. and the driest in 4 years. It was also the 2nd driest week of the calendar year to date, a sharp turnaround from the cooler, wetter trend for much of June 2009.
• Last week this year in the U.S. was the warmest week 4 of June in over 12 years and also significantly warmer than normal. Precipitation was near normal.
• This is the sixth consecutive week that temperatures have trended warmer than normal and last year in the U.S., the longest consecutive stretch of these conditions since late summer/early Fall 2007.
• All Eastern regions trended warmer than normal. When compared to the prior year, New England was the warmest region, with temperatures averaging +4F vs LY, and its warmest week 4 of June in 7 years. The Middle Atlantic region was +3F vs LY, representing its warmest week 4 of June since 2002. The South Atlantic region had its warmest week 4 of June in over 13 years, with temperatures averaging +3F vs LY and +5F vs Normal.
• Warmest markets on a year over year basis last week include Boston, MA (+11F vs LY), New York, NY (+9F vs LY), Baltimore, MD (+8F vs LY), while Hartford, CT, Philadelphia, PA and Richmond, VA were all (+7F vs LY).
• The Mountain and Pacific regions trended cooler than normal. Compared to 2009, cooler conditions were most prevalent in the East North Central region (-3F vs LY) and the West North Central region (-2F vs LY).
• Coldest cities to 2009 include San Francisco, CA and Green Bay, WI (both -5F vs LY) while Chicago, IL, Houston, TX, and Minneapolis, MN were each -4F vs LY.
• Precipitation in the U.S. increased +40% vs LY, although was close to normal.
• Wettest locations last week include the East North Central region, which had it wettest week 4 of June in over 13 years. The West North Central region had its wettest week 4 of June since 2003. Wettest cities last week include Des Moines, IA (3.8 inches), Indianapolis, IN (3.7 inches), Minneapolis, MN (3.3 inches), and Houston, TX (2.7 inches).
• Driest locations last week include the South Atlantic region, which had its driest week 4 of June in over 13 years. The East South Central region had its driest week 4 of June since 2005. Several major markets in these regions had no measurable rainfall last week, including Baltimore, MD, Birmingham, AL, Charlotte, NC, Knoxville, TN, and Memphis, TN.
• Nearly 1,900 weather records were set last week. Over 45% of these were the result of high nighttime temperatures, making for very uncomfortable conditions for residents in the U.S., particularly in the east. Nearly 400 daytime high temperature records were also set in the east. Significant rainfall in the Northern Tier and Upper Midwest resulted in over 500 rainfall records being set.
• Some records set over the past week include:
  • Baltimore, MD had three recording breaking days in a row with Wednesday June 23 (97F), Thursday June 24 (100F), and Friday June 25 (100F) all new records for these dates.
  • Atlantic City, NJ (99F), Roanoke, VA (100F) and Miami, FL (96F) also set record high temperatures on Friday June 25.
  • Chicago, IL recorded 1.23 inches of rain on June 23, breaking the record set on this date back in 1948 and New Orleans, LA recorded 1.71 inches on the same day, also a daily record.
  • Houston, TX recorded 2.74 inches of rain on Thursday June 24th, a new record.
    
• For reference, last week last year (2009), Canada had its warmest week 4 of June since 2006 with above normal precipitation.
• Last week this year in Canada was significantly cooler than last year although close to normal. It was also the driest final week of June since 2007, although slightly wetter than normal.
• Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton had their warmest fourth week of June since 2006. Conversely, Ottawa was coolest since 2000.
• Toronto had its wettest week 4 of June in over 10 years. Calgary was the wettest since 2004 and Edmonton was wettest since 2005. Conversely, Quebec was the driest since 2005 while Vancouver and Halifax were each drier than normal.

Consumer Impact in the East/Mid-Western North America:

• The warmer than normal temperatures drove double digit comps for sales of bottled water, sports drinks, pool chemicals, sun care, air conditioners, fans, charcoal and shorts.
• Hot and dry conditions in the Northeast were not favorable for sales of lawn mowers, plants and lawn and garden supplies.

Consumer Impact in Western Portions of North America:

• Warmer temperatures than LY in the Southwest proved favorable for sales of pool chemicals, swimwear, charcoal, bottled water and air conditioners.
• Along the Pacific coast, cooler and wet conditions slowed sales of summer products.