Captain's Log 21 June '21 Cool then Hot toward 4th of July
Happy Monday! :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bpgcBaAatk
Father's Day Sunday ushered in the official start to Summer 2021 at 11:32pm EDT last night, so welcome to Summer! CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER VIEW.
Last Week (13-19 June) across the World was hot and generally dry for the world overall with the U.S. trending 3.9F warmer than last year making it the hottest in 26 years and #2 hottest in 36 years. This was great news for a very strong start to hot Summer seasonal categories with double digit YOY gains. It was a tad wetter than last year, but still 6th driest of the past 36 years. Two tropical storms (Bill and Claudette) developed with moderate impacts to the North Central Gulf.
Canada was also warmer and the driest in 27 years, Europe warmest in 8 years and driest in 4 with Russia the warmest in 9 years...all favorable trends for Summer seasonal merchandise.
This week (21-27 June) shows a cold front bringing an end to the hot conditions in the East with a cooler few days ahead before things being warming up again. For the U.S. overall, the week trends 1F cooler than a year ago but still 14th warmest of the past 36 years. Rainfall up and possibly the wettest in 15 years with the heaviest rain from Arkansas to the interior Northeast. The bone dry West and North Central U.S. continue with their expanding drought with the worst conditions for North and Western Corn Belt farmers since 1988. Need to watch the tropics again with a system possible in the Eastern Caribbean later this week heading in the general direction of the Gulf of Mexico.
Next week (28 June - 4 July) a warming trend developing and expanding back into the Central U.S. with the week before the 4th of July weekend trending the warmest in 9 years and 2nd hottest in 36 years. More strong sales gains very likely. Rainfall probably over done with the wettest conditions in 4 years. Models have been forecasting a lot of rain in the parched North Central U.S. and Corn Belt but it never seems to develop. So far June in areas like Iowa is the #1 hottest in over 36 years and 2nd driest since 1988. If it doesn't rain very soon, there will be major crop losses in the WCB. Watch the tropics for a potential system in the Western Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico.
Already 3 named systems which is well above average for middle June and we may have #4 with a wave that came off Africa and now in the South Central Atlantic.
The 2-week World forecast (21 June - 4 July) shows expanding heat in the U.S., very hot for Eastern Europe, Russia and Brazil.
Captain Kirk and his girls couldn't miss the Air Force Thunderbirds show this year, so we headed to our favorite close vacation spot in Ocean City MD. Mrs. Captain Kirk and the little one thought it was going to be just palm trees and sand for the week, but something for Dad too. :) The Thunderbirds put on a great show despite some cloud cover that made it challenging, but fun to watch from the beach. See video toward the end for some of the show.
We hope your Summer is off to a great start and don't forget to follow us on social media for updates: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Linkedin
- Captain Kirk out.