Unseasonable Chill Grips Midwest and Northeast Ahead of Memorial Day

Cooler conditions may temper early summer momentum, but dry weather in parts of the South and West offers retail opportunity heading into the holiday weekend.

Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 26th, marking the unofficial start to the summer season. After a spring marked by frequent temperature swings and volatile conditions, retailers are looking to the holiday weekend to stabilize seasonal demand. While a broad warm-up isn’t in the forecast for many key markets, pockets of drier weather may still support sales in outdoor living, lawn and garden, and summer-related categories.

The week leading up to Memorial Day Weekend will bring cooler conditions to the northern U.S., while the South and West see warmer temperatures. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected from the Northern Rockies to the Southeast, which may affect travel and outdoor plans.

Meanwhile, the Southwest and South Central regions can expect mostly dry weather—favorable for outdoor events, travel, and seasonal retail activity. Businesses in these areas may benefit from increased demand for summer goods and holiday-related promotions.

As the holiday weekend begins, most of the Midwest and Northeast will remain cooler than normal, which could temper demand for summer goods in those regions. Meanwhile, hotter conditions will take hold across the West, Gulf Coast, and parts of the Southeast—regions where consumers may be more inclined to travel, dine outdoors, and shop for warm-weather essentials. Light showers are expected across parts of the eastern U.S. during the weekend, while the West is likely to stay dry, supporting a strong finish to the holiday for outdoor plans and retail activity.