Pent-Up Demand In The East: Arctic Plunge Helped Retailers Challenged by Early Season Warmth. The West Basked In Unseasonably Warm Conditions.
Weekend Review (10-11 November 2007): A Clipper storm system made its way out of the Northeast after providing periods of cold rain and inland snow. This storm developed rapidly off the East Coast becoming a strong Noreaster which pounded the Canadian Maritimes with strong winds, rain, and snow late in the weekend.
While temperatures moderated up and down the East Coast, the remainder of the U.S. was generally warmer than typical and dry (except for the Pacific Northwest). Periods of light rain and snow occurred in Canada from the Western Provinces to the Prairies.
Last Week (week-ending 11/10/2007): After a mild start to the week, the weather changed dramatically. Having experienced consistently warm temperatures much of the Fall, the eastern half of North America finally got a taste of Ol Man Winter.
Mid-week, an Arctic air mass dove southward out of the Prairies and into the Upper Midwest dropping temperatures an average of 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, further lowered by strong wind chills.
Measurable snow fell in Eastern Canada and in the U.S. in the vicinity of the Great Lakes. This Arctic blast continued its southward dive reaching the Gulf Coast late week. High temperatures ranged from the mid to upper 30s North to mid 60s South, an average of 10 to 15 degrees below normal.
Morning frost and freezes were experienced over a large area as far south as Northern Florida. Meanwhile, the western third of the U.S. and Canada experienced Indian Summer conditions. Record high temperatures were set in much of the U.S. Southwest; temperatures were well into the 60s into western Canada.
Consumer Impact in the East/Mid-Western North America: The wintry weather was welcome for seasonal retailers who experienced an initial surge in winter goods, including: outerwear, winter boots, heaters, and winter car care.
Consumer Impact in the Western Portions of North America: Unseasonably warm weather curbed cold weather demand. However, the dry conditions were a plus for store traffic.
marketing@alchempro.com
