Star Date 13 May 2019 Monday

Good morning and Happy Monday! :)

Had to laugh when we read the headline a week ago predicting record shattering Mother's Day sales...guess they forgot to check the WEATHER forecast! CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER VIEW.

Recall last year we had one of the coldest snowiest March-April in 21 years across the U.S. and then a record hot May and 2nd hottest Mother's Day in 30 years - THAT WAS LAST YEAR. That led to record sales with huge pent up demand after the miserable early Spring. This year Mother's day made the biggest YOY drop in temperatures in over 30 years with the coldest conditions in 9 years. Very doubtful sales were as good as the headlines suggested.



This week (13-19 May) starts off near record cold in the East with high temperatures only in the 30s and 40 in the Northeast with the threat of high elevation snow. A big warm up will move in by the weekend with 30 to 40 degree warmer weather and hopefully a rare drier weekend in the Northeast for the 18th-19th. The week overall looks to trend coldest in 3 years for the U.S. overall but 11th warmest of the past 30 years, 10th wettest in 30 years but drier than last year.



Next week (20-26 May) is again cooler than last year but 6th warmest of the past 30 years for the U.S. overall, driest in 3 years but still 9th wettest in 30 years. The Rocky Mountains, Plains and Southeast Coast look to be the bright spot for the week prior to Memorial Day weekend.



California remains very cold, wet and snowy - a huge negative for both retail sales and the Ag industry. Grapes will get hammered with diseases in Napa and Sonoma. They'll be skiing through the Summer at this rate with another 2-4 FEET of snow in the Sierras.



The early Memorial Day weekend (Friday 24th - Monday 27th) looks warmest in theRocky Mountains and Plains while the East Coast and West Coast are on the cooler side. Overall the holiday weekend looks to trend coolest in 6 years vs last year's #1 hottest Memorial Day in decades. Rainfall hopefully on the dry side trending driest in 12 years and 4th driest in 30 years - a bright spot!



Drought across the U.S. continues to be near historic lows with only 9.8% of the U.S. with some dry/drought status. Way below the average of 47%.



Fingers crossed the El Nino wind shear and African Sahara dust will be two of many factors leading to an overall down hurricane season. After a couple active years, we need a break. We can see the dust coming off the Sahara all the way to Texas right now.



Here in Eastern PA we definitely need a break from rain on weekends as 67% of spring weekend days have had some rain in our area. The Kirk family continues to look for every INDOOR venue possible to keep an active little one happy on these gloomy days. BounceU did the trick for a couple hours.



Have a great week and don't forget to follow us on social media for daily updates.Facebook,Twitter,YouTube,PinterestandLinkedin

- Captain Kirk out.