Memorial Day is Monday, May 25th, representing the unofficial start to the summer season. The extended holiday weekend typically brings a notable lift in demand for seasonal categories as consumers flock to beaches and pools, and gather for picnics and barbecues.
The run-up to Memorial Day Weekend will begin with warmer temperatures compared to last year and normal, trending cooler as the week progresses in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions, according to forecasts from Planalytics. Cooler temperatures to both last year and normal will be focused in the Southwest, South Central, and Central Plains. For those in Canada, Victoria Day (May 18th) will trend much warmer than last year along the East and West Coasts, while the Prairies will be cooler.
Warmth will return to the East for the Memorial Day Weekend (Friday, May 22nd – Monday, May 25th). Most major population centers along the Atlantic seaboard will trend warmer than last year and normal, increasing demand for summer consumables, says the weather forecasting firm. Locations along the West Coast will also be warmer than normal, although cooler than the extreme warmth of last year. The Southwest and South Central regions will trend cooler than normal, but still warmer than last year, while the Central Plains will see cooler conditions to both last year and normal.
Rain is expected to threaten many markets throughout the country during the weekend. This includes the Western regions of the U.S., which continue to experience drought conditions. Light to moderate rain is likely throughout the Plains and upper Midwest, moving east towards the end of the holiday weekend. As we move through the heart of severe weather season, there is an increased threat for damaging wind, hail, and tornadoes, particularly in the Plains. Watch for your daily Severe Weather Alerts and WeatherVue reports which provide conditions and impacts specific to your business.
