Earth’s Orbit Around Sun. Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun at the Summer Solstice

Even though today will be the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, temperatures usually don’t peak until about July or August. Summer is essentially just getting started, but if we receive the most sunlight today why don’t the temperatures peak until several weeks later?

The Earth’s atmosphere and oceans absorb the radiation from the Sun and then reradiate this energy over time. Water has a very high heat capacity and considering that Earth is covered in about 70% of water, this takes a long time to heat-up and reradiate. Think of a pot of water on a stove, you wouldn’t expect the water to instantaneously boil as soon as the burner is turned to high-heat; the Earth doesn’t heat this quickly either.

Number of +90F degree days by U.S. region in 2011 versus 2012

Although temperatures typically don’t spike until July or August, today will feel like the “boiling point” has been reached across the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Southwest states. Heat advisories and excessive heat warnings have been posted across several states, including the cities of Phoenix, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and even as far north as Portland, ME. For many cities in the Northeast this will be the start of the first heat wave (3 or more consecutive days of +90F temperatures) of the year, but recall that by this time last year, many cities in the Northeast had already had 1 or 2 heat waves. In fact, taking a look at the total number of +90F degree days last year compared to this year through the same time period (January 1^st-June 19^th) the Northeast region as a whole has not seen a single day this year with temperatures of 90F or greater, while last year there had been 2. Conversely, the Southwest and Southern Rocky Mountain states have seen several more days of +90F weather this year.

Temperatures vs. Normal for today (June 20th, 2012)

As we approach our most inclined position towards the Sun later today, hopefully you can find some air conditioning, or at the very least, some shade. Folks in the Northeast can take comfort in the fact that the weather hasn’t been as bad as last year, but in the Southwest, there may be more cause for complaint and grief this year. Happy Summer Solstice and stay cool!

Ahead of retailers’ same-store sales reports on Thursday, analysts expect sales in April to rise 1.5%. That compares with an 8.7% gain in the year-earlier period, Retail Metrics data showed. In March, sales excluding a decline at drugstore chain Walgreen Co. jumped 6.5%, with about two-thirds of retailers topping estimates. Read more about Easter’s timing lifting retailers in March.

“We expect to see a significant downshift in same-store sales in April” against tough year-earlier comparisons and the impact of weather, said MKM Partners analyst Patrick McKeever.

Because the timing of Easter affected the sales outcome for March and April, analysts said the two months’ results combined would be a better gauge of consumer demand. Retail Metrics data showed that retailers are expected to report a 2.9% increase when March and April sales are combined.

“Retailers faced several significant headwinds” in April, said analyst Ken Perkins at Retail Metrics.

In addition to Easter arriving more than two weeks earlier this year than last year, which drove sales to March, warmer weather in February and March also pulled forward demand for spring merchandise, he said. Meanwhile, Mother’s Day falls about a week later this year, also likely pushing marginal sales out of April and into May.

Some economic indicators also have been discouraging. The number of Americans who applied for jobless benefits remained at an elevated level, raising concerns about potential weakness in the U.S. labor market. Read more about jobless claims.

Cold weather toward the end of the month along the East Coast also may have deterred consumers from buying swimsuits, shorts and spring dresses.

“Cold air remained in place through the balance of the week along the East Coast resulting in the coldest final week of a retail April in 21 plus years for both the Northeast and Southeast, a big negative for spring categories,” said Weather Trends International.

The percentage of consumers who said they didn’t shop the past week was at its highest level since the end of March, according to a consumer tracking survey by International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs.

Still, with stores stocking brightly colored attire that has helped drive demand in February and March, some analysts are more hopeful.

“We believe retailers continued to experience robust sales trends in April despite the impact of the Easter shift,” said Citigroup analyst Deborah Weinswig, adding the Easter timing likely hurt sales by 1.5 percentage points to 2.5 percentage points. “Consumers continued to respond well to the fashion and color on the floor.”

Because of Easter’s impact, May will provide a more solid read on whether demand has continued for summer merchandise, analysts said.

“Focus will really be on May results to see how summer selling is faring,” Perkins said. “A strong May would go a long way toward allaying fears of yet another economic double dip.”

Discounters likely outperformed in April, posting a gain of 4.2%, Retail Metrics data showed. Department stores likely lagged behind with a 1.9% increase. Teen apparel retailers’ sales inched up 0.2% on average. Drugstore chains were expected to fare the worst, posting a 3.4% decline, Retail Metrics data showed.

Among individual retailers, Victoria’s Secret parent Limited Brands Inc., after reporting a 20% sales increase a year earlier, likely will show a total sales gain of 3.9%, including a 5% jump from the lingerie chain, Retail Metrics data showed.

Gap Inc. , on other hand, will likely post a 0.8% decline. Gap had posted its second straight monthly increase in March sales since a sales gain in June.

T.J. Maxx parent TJX Cos. and Ross Stores Inc. , retailers that sell discounted namebrand merchandise, will likely post gains of 3.5% and 3.3% each.

Among the teen segment, Zumiez Inc. likely saw a 6.9% sales increase while Wet Seal Inc. a 9.2% decline.

Luxury retailers Nordstrom Inc. and Saks Inc. are expected to see gains of 6.2% and 5.6% each, continuing to outpace their department-store counterparts. Analysts expected Macy’s Inc. to report a 1.9% increase while Kohl’s Corp. is expected to see a 0.9% decline.

Costco Wholesale Corp. is expected to outpace in the discount group with a 5.4% increase. Analysts expected Target Corp. to report a 2.8% increase. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. no longer reports monthly figures.

1. Anomalously cold water in the Tropical Atlantic inhibiting tropical cyclone genesis and intensification.

2. Likely development of El Niño in late Summer/Fall which increases vertical shear and also inhibits storm formation and intensification

WTI has identified 2 years with similar atmospheric and oceanic conditions to 2012 which were incorporated into the WTI model to forecast patterns and tendencies of tropical systems this year.   These similar years were 1979 and 2009.  Tropical cyclones that form during the 2012 Atlantic Season will tend to follow similar tracks and result in a similar amount of activity to both of these years. In 2009, there were 9 named storms, 2 of which were major hurricanes, 1 reached hurricane status, and 6 reached tropical storm status; in 1979 there were 8 named storms, 2 major hurricanes, 3 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms.
WTI expects the first storm of the season to crop up in July  with the bulk of the storm activity over by the end of September. Keep in mind that a storm or two is not out of the question after  September and it only takes one land-falling storm to make a huge impact on an area.

The Central Gulf Coast  from the East Texas Coast through about the Florida Panhandle will run the highest risk of a land-falling tropical system. Meanwhile, a moderate risk of a land-falling storm will encompass the Southeast coast from about Fort Lauderdale, FL to Charleston, SC. Elsewhere, WTI has lower confidence of a land-falling storm.

Water temperatures in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean are anomalously cool right now. The expectation is for these cool, sea surface temperatures to migrate westward and reach the Caribbean by June. For this reason, we expect that the first storm of the season will hold off until July as the cooler water will inhibit tropical cyclone growth at the very beginning of the season which starts June 1st. Conversely, very warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico will feed storms and contribute to making this a high risk area for storms.

The La Niña (cooler than normal Equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures) that brought an active season in 2011 has mostly dissipated as sea surface temperatures (SSTs) have turned warmer. In figure 4, the previous 4 weeks of Equatorial Pacific SST anomalies show that warmer areas are increasing in coverage and magnitude while cooler areas are decreasing, especially in the eastern Pacific. El Niño (warmer than normal Equatorial Pacific SSTs) is likely later this Summer or Fall and this will inhibit tropical system development in the Atlantic Ocean by increasing vertical wind shear (a killer for tropical systems) and lowers the chance of a major hurricane. WTI anticipates that the 2012 Hurricane Season will be front-loaded with most of the activity occurring from July until September.  As the season progresses, the likelihood of  El Niño increases, thus, the environment will be less favorable for cyclone development later in the season.

Both of WTI’s analog years, 1979 and 2009, exhibited similar scenarios to 2012 with a developing El Niño and are considered to be reliable indicators for this year’s season. Expect a near to below normal season for named storms in the Atlantic with a nearly normal to below-normal probability of a storm striking the U.S. The highest risk will be in the Central Gulf Coast, while the area from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Charleston, SC runs a moderate risk of a strike. Remember, it takes only 1 storm to cause a major impact to an area.

2011 SUMMARY

Last year the season totals were 19 named storms, 4 major hurricanes, 3 hurricanes, 12 tropical storms, and 3 U.S. land-falling storms. As cautioned in Weather Trends’ report last year, the Carolina coast received a land-falling storm, Hurricane Irene, the most infamous storm of the season. Irene made landfall in NC, NJ, and NY in late August before racing up through New England and Canada. Irene’s impacts included: 41 casualties in the U.S., widespread damage to homes, flooding, and long-lasting power outages from the Carolinas through New England. Tropical Storm Lee made landfall in Louisiana on the heels of Irene’s departure and the remnants from Lee caused flooding from the Gulf Coast through the Mid-Atlantic resulting in some of the region’s most severe flooding in history. Tropical Storm Don was the first land-falling storm of the season which struck S. TX in late July. However, soon after landfall the storm dissipated as it encountered wind shear and very dry air from drought-stricken areas of NE Mexico and S. TX.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Despite the shadow of rising gasoline prices, shoppers went out to spend in March and answered to an earlier arrival of Easter, warmer weather and a brighter and fresher spring assortment.

That delivered retailers’ sales upside for the 13th time in the past 15 months, with total March comparable sales rising 3.9%, topping the 3.3% gain analysts were looking for, according to Retail Metrics. Excluding the decline at drugstore Walgreen Co., total sales in March rose 6.5%, with about two-thirds of retailers exceeding expectations, Retail Metrics said.

“Consumers are shopping,” said Barbara Kahn, a professor and director of the Wharton School’s Jay H. Baker Retailing Center, in an interview. “The weather is warmer. Easter is here. There’s a lot of excitement. The fashion merchandise seems to be hitting the right note. There’s a reason to buy. Gas price is an issue, but the numbers are starting to solidify. It’s a good indicator.”

Sales at discounter Target Corp. and department store operator Macy’s Inc. both rose 7.3%. No.1 U.S. clothing chain Gap Inc. and Victoria’s Secret parent Limited Brands Inc. both saw an 8% increase. Upscale retailer Nordstrom Inc. reported an 8.6% increase, driven by demand for handbags, kids apparel and cosmetics. They all exceeded analysts’ estimates. Mid-priced department store operator Kohl’s Corp., while a laggard, also reported a better-than-expected 3.6% increase,

In another positive sector note, Bed, Bath & Beyond Inc. jumped 8.5% on Thursday after its fourth-quarter profit topped views on a 6.8% same-store sales increase. Home furnishings chain Pier 1 Imports Inc. rose almost 1% after reporting a 10% same-store sales increase.

T.J. Maxx parent TJX Cos. and Ross Stores Inc., so-called off-price retailers that sell namebrand merchandise at a discount, both posted better-than-expected 10% sales gains and raised their first-quarter outlooks. Target also raised its first-quarter profit forecast minus items to $1.04 to $1.10 a share from a prior guidance of as much as $1.07 a share.

Target’s surprise

“March sales were well above our expectations, reflecting a healthy underlying trend combined with the benefit of an earlier Easter and favorable weather this year,” said Chief Executive Gregg Steinhafel, adding that Target’s April sales would likely slow to a percentage rate in the low-to-mid single digits.

March is an important month for retailers, representing 40% of their fiscal first-quarter sales, Barclays Capital analyst Stacy Pak said.

In another sign of brighter consumer mood, Easter, the third-biggest selling holiday behind Christmas and Valentine’s Day, is expected to see average consumer spending rising 11% to $145.28, a National Retail Federation’s survey showed.

According to Weather Trends International, March weather in many areas east of the Rockies saw the second warmest weather, if not the warmest, in the last 100 years, lifting demand for apparel, grills and grass seed.

Weather not only brought shoppers out, it also spurred them to buy spring clothing early in the season at full price, analysts said. Retailers such as Gap also have done a good job of unveiling a new assortment of colored denim and capri pants as well as tops and outfits with brighter palette and prints and stripes, giving shoppers a reason to replenish their wardrobe, they said.

Color “is the most meaningful trend to hit apparel since the premium- priced denim craze” hit a wall with the economic downturn in 2008, said Avondale Partners analyst Mark Montagna, adding he expects the color trend could last for at least two years. “Color appears to be the answer to the long asked question of ‘when will we see something new in apparel?’”

Still, looking ahead, Easter falling two weeks earlier this year compared to last year likely pulled forward some of April’s anticipated sales. A better measure of consumer demand would be to look at combined March and April sales, analysts said. Citigroup analyst Deborah Weinswig estimated the Easter shift aided March sales by as much as 2 percentage points.

Retailers also said Mother’s Day falling later this year will hurt April sales.

Sales in last year’s April rose 8.7%, Retail Metrics said, adding that gasoline prices nearing $4 a gallon in many areas also are expected to take a bite out of consumers’ discretionary budgets.

Gap in the sun

Gap’s 8% gain marked its second straight increase since a sales gain in June. Sales at Gap North America rose 9%. They were up 5% at Banana Republic and jumped 11% at Old Navy. International sales rose unexpectedly. The company said it’s pleased with customer response to its products across all brands.

“This should further bolster confidence in a turn at Gap brand,” said Caris & Co. analyst Dorothy Lakner, who raised her rating on the stock on Monday.

Macy’s raised its combined March-April period projection to a gain of as much as 4.5% from as much as 3.5% previously. April sales, however, are projected to be up only 1% to 1.3% — hurt by the Easter and Mother’s Day calendar shifts, the company said.

“The early warm weather drew attention to our outstanding assortments of fresh spring goods, which were received enthusiastically by customers,” said Chief Executive Terry Lundgren. “Our strength in performance was balanced across Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, stores and online, geographies and families of business.”

At, Limited Brands, demand was led by a 10% increase at Victoria’s Secret, which relaunched its Very Sexy push-up bra and introduced a Very Sexy fragrance.

Among the teen segment, Zumiez Inc. sales rose 14%, beating the 8.9% consensus estimate, helped by an increase in average unit retail price.

Among some of the disappointments, Costco Wholesale Corp. sales rose 6%, missing estimates of a 6.7% increase. Excluding the impact of gasoline inflation and currency translations, sales would have risen 6%, also missing expectations. Demand gained in food and apparel, offset by lower electronics sales.

“The result was solid, but unspectacular,” said Deutsche Bank analyst Charles Grom, adding Costco faced a tough year-earlier March sales comparison of a 13% increase.

Teen retailer Buckle Inc. sales rose 6.4%, missing the 8.8% average estimate. That sent its shares down 6.7%.

Why?

Well, Google have been awarded a patent that could allow it to offer up advertisements based on your environment while you hopelessly prod at your smartphone.

Of course, this patent hasn’t been well received by privacy organisations who think that its all a bit Minority Report, which sees us dead-eyed plebs heavily targeted by commercials while living in some ghastly dystopian society. A world where your phone demands you buy a scarf and wellington boots! THE HORROR!

The filing submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) says that “information about an environmental condition of a remote device is received, the environmental condition being determined based on a signal output from a sensor of the remote device or a sensor coupled to the remote device. An advertisement is identified based on the environmental condition, and the advertisement is provided to the remote device.”

That suggests that we could see a future where we have weather sensors included in our phones, but it is more likely that it’ll work through the weather updates and data accrued from it.

“When determining what ads to serve to end users, the environmental factors can be used independently or in combination with matching of keywords associated with the advertisements and keywords in user search queries,” said the patent. “A web browser or search engine located at the user’s site may obtain information on the environment (e.g. temperature, humidity, light, sound, air composition) from sensors.”

“Advertisers may specify that the ads are shown to users whose environmental conditions meet certain criteria,” it added. “For example, advertisements for air conditioners can be sent to users located at regions having temperatures above a first threshold, while advertisements for winter overcoats can be sent to users located at regions having temperatures below a second threshold.

Google have also patented a method of detecting background noise when a user makes a phone call. Combined with GPS functionality, this could see ads generated after it has been determined that a user is at a festival or football match, meaning you’d get ads for albums or pies.

Patent Details: U.S. Patent 8,138,930

Source: BitterWallet

Link to Video: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/88225012/

1. You’re getting up from bed

One of the first impacts of the weather is when you will wake up from bed. And more importantly, whether you want to wake up! On bright summery days, the first rays of the early morning sun wake you up bright and early, ready to take on the day with zeal and enthusiasm. On cold snowy foggy wintery days, you just want to snuggle in bed and wish you could stay there all day! In reality, when and how you wake up sets the tone for the rest of the day.

2. Your Dressing up

The weather affects what you can wear, what you feel like wearing and most importantly, what you actually end up wearing. In terms of colors, in terms of textures, in terms of styles, in terms of lengths, in terms of fashion, in terms of layers, in terms of accessories, in terms of foot-wear…

3. What you eat / drink

The weather directly affects what is available to eat, what you eat and drink and also how much you actually guzzle. On a hot day, you yearn for ice creams, cold coffees, etc. And on cold days, you desire hot coffee, tea, milk, etc. And what you eat affects your thoughts, your energy, your life…

4. Your Daily Lifestyle

Your daily routine in affected by the weather. In terms of whether or not you exercise (& also how much), in terms of mode of travel and travel time, in terms of the length of the day, in terms of how much time you can get for work, play, prayer, family, friends, fun, reading, writing… just about everything! And lastly, in terms of when you go to bed!

5. Your Activities & Hobbies

The activities and hobbies you can indulge in depend a lot on the weather – In terms of feasibility, in terms of accessibility, in terms of availability, in terms of affordability…

6. Your Moods

Weather has a direct impact on your moods and the moods of those around you. On a gloomy day, your mood also tends to be low. On a bright chirpy day, your mood is reflective of the atmosphere around and you tend to be cheerful and more positive.

7. Your Social Life

Social Life is again directly dependent on the weather. Little things like when and how you can visit someone, how you can entertain guests in your home, embarking on an outdoor group activity, organizing an major life event like a wedding, birthday celebration, a party, etc. – They are all linked to the weather!!

8. Your Productivity

Your productivity is again influenced by the weather. In your personal life for things like how much time you take to do daily things like cooking, eating, cleaning, gardening, laundry, home-maintenance, etc. In your professional like for things like how quickly you are able to complete an assigned task, how effectively you can delegate, etc.

9. Your Life Skills

Weather also affects life skills in ways you don’t acknowledge, recognize or fully appreciate – Things like presence of mind, communication, alertness, attentiveness, negotiation, collaboration (both how well you collaborate with others and how well others collaborate with you), listening skills, memory, concentration, attention to detail, ability to grasp new things, ability to comprehend, ability to learn…

10. Your Creativity

Any creative soul will vouch for this. Based on your basic nature and individual body type, there are specific seasons of the year when your creative energy and juices just flow… And while you may not have recognized this, if you look back at times when you have been extraordinarily creative, you will be able to see a pattern.. Yes! Weather does affect your creativity.

11. Your Emotions

Weather does affect your basic human emotions – In terms of how you feel and the depth of your emotions – Ranging from love, hate, fear, sadness, joy, acceptance, surprise, anger, disgust, anticipation. While weather is not the only determinant for your emotions, it does play a contributing factor.

12. Your Thoughts

The last and most important effect of the weather is on your thoughts. In terms of what you think about, How much you think, Why you think, When you think, Where you think, About whom you think and finally, what you do about all your thinking!

What’s your forecast?

Source: 12most.com

Half a century later, private-sector meteorologists are selling customized weather data to a myriad of enterprises — agriculture, fast food, retail, energy, manufacturing, construction and transportation, golf, sailing and pigeon-racing.

“There is a very close connection between weather and finance, very close in some industries and closer than you might think in others,” says Edward Johnson, director of the National Weather Service’s office of strategic planning and policy, which works with the forecasting industry. “I still get surprised from time to time about the creative ways that the U.S. economy is using our information to be more efficient, to protect people’s lives, to create new companies.”

While the National Weather Service focuses heavily on public safety, private-sector meteorology businesses take the government’s free, raw data — and in some cases generate their own — and tailor it to their commercial customers.

They serve the likes of trucking companies that route vehicles based on winds, fast-food chains that analyze weather data to help gauge the effectiveness of ad campaigns, and steel makers watching for cold snaps that could hamper production.

Where there were tensions in the past, the government and the U.S. meteorology industry collaborate extensively today, along with academia, in what the players call the “weather enterprise.”

The National Weather Service, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, issues data to support the entire economy, and “we have a laser-like focus on public safety,” says Johnson. “But we don’t believe it’s our job to provide packaged information for an individual manufacturer.”

The competitive weather industry has developed since about 1950 in response to a growing demand for specialized, “value-added content,” one initially met by government, notedWeatherBank Inc. President and Chief Executive Steve Root, who is also president of the American Weather and Climate Industry Association. Recent technological advances present significant expansion opportunities.

While only government has the means to build and operate a vast weather infrastructure of satellites and radar, Root says, “There are things that private industry does that it can do faster, quicker, sweeter, better than government.” The North American weather enterprise produces content unrivaled elsewhere in the world, adds Root.

Customized, complex data sets, for example, can be used to predict the demand for winter coats and timber as well as extreme dangers to specific commercial property.

Global forecasting player AccuWeather Inc.’s WeatherData Services unit lists numerous instances in which its early, precise weather warnings helped businesses avert potential disaster.

For instance, one night in May 2007, the company, which can predict risks to specific track points, warned Union Pacific [UNP  106.80    -2.75  (-2.51%)   ]railroad of a tornado danger near Greensburg, Kansas. The railroad stopped two trains and the crews watched as the massive tornado, illuminated by lightning, passed between them, recalls WeatherData CEO Mike Smith.

Industries use weather data in less obvious ways as well. Root’s consulting company, WeatherBank, works with golf industry analysis firm Pellucid Corp. to help businesses determine the role weather plays in performance, whether in number of rounds played or number of balls sold.

Pellucid, with clients including Billy Casper Golf and Titleist, considers itself a golf market-maker for WeatherBank, says company President James Koppenhaver.

The companies’ combined expertise, including custom data that defines golf-playable days, allows Pellucid to tell course managers the extent to which weather influenced business. If a facility’s performance slides, managers need to know whether marketing or operations need to be changed.

Often, says Koppenhaver, the weather data will show that a client’s dip in business performance wasn’t as significant as the drop in golf-playable days, so Pellucid can say, “‘You actually outperformed what the weather gave you to work with last month.’ ”

The data from WeatherBank, which includes years of weather station data, is more sophisticated and reliable than the observations of a $7-an-hour employee, he says.

The industry ranges from one- or two-man shops to major services like AccuWeather and the Weather Channel Companies, the latter owned by a consortium that includes NBCUniversal, parent company of CNBC.com.

Getting a precise handle on the industry’s size and revenue can be difficult, given that so many players are privately held and the space is highly competitive.

Tim Spangler, director of the COMET atmospheric sciences training program, estimates the broad U.S. weather and climate industry at more than $5 billion, including some 250 commercial weather companies that generate roughly $2 billion.

“This whole commercial space has been growing faster than you can imagine,” says WeatherBank’s Root, referring to technological advances rather than new forecasting companies or rocketing revenue.

Established forecasting services probably grow internally at less than 10 percent a year, he said. Wireless technology and a host of sophisticated graphic and data capabilities, on the other hand, represent significant opportunity for expansion into new arenas, he says.

“The phenomenal growth rate,” Root says, “is the opportunity that’s ahead of us.”

Source: CNBC

I’m really looking forward to the light rain showers that are predicted to fall on Albuquerque, N.M., on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Coupled with a high of 88 degrees, it should be a lovely day. I’m marking it on my calendar to play hooky from work.

I’m privy to this knowledge thanks to WT360 Pro, a 99-cent app for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad that gives weather forecasts up to 360 days into the future. It’s as close to a weather crystal ball as you can get.

WT360 Pro isn’t just guessing blindly. It’s tied in with the Weather Trends International site, a place to go for weather forecasts and long-range future predictions. The company uses a super-secret formula that takes into account weather history and statistics.

There are plenty of practical applications for an app like this. You could figure out if that lavish outdoor wedding you’re planning for next spring is likely to happen amid a monsoon. You could choose your fall vacation destination based on which beach town will have the nicest weather.

Really, this makes sense for anyone arranging travel plans for months down the line. Should the NFL season actually happen, then the Super Bowl in Indianapolis could be played on a day when the low should hit 17 degrees. Pack a down jacket.

The WT360 app capably handles short-term forecasts as well, though it’s not as slick-looking as some of the other weather apps out there. A neat little animated weather map feature gives you a look at temperatures in different regions around the world.

Ultimately, WT360 doesn’t need to blow you away with the visuals. The developers know that the real draw is its 1,000-yard stare into the future.

Source: CNET News

Weather Trends International, Inc. (WTI) today announced that Steven C. Rockefeller Jr., Chairman and CEO of Rose Rock Partners, has been elected to the company’s Advisory Board of Directors.

“Steven’s humanitarian efforts in pursuit of poverty alleviation is just one of many areas where WTI’s year-ahead global forecasting technology can be applied. Our technology can help save lives by giving governments and humanitarian organizations all over the world the ability to better prepare well in advance for weather-related issues like malaria, drought-induced famines and crop losses,” said Bill Kirk, chief executive officer of Weather Trends International. “His strategic insights and relationships with organizations such as the United Nations and world governments will be a huge asset in assisting WTI to expand globally.”

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to join Bill’s passionate team at Weather Trends International. The company is taking weather forecasting to a whole new level with so many applications for businesses, consumers and humanitarian organizations all over the world,” said Steven C. Rockefeller Jr. “I have no doubt this technology will be invaluable in making the world a better place and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Rockefeller is the grandson of former U.S. Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller. He is also the owner of Re-echo Holdings. Previously he was a managing director at Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management. Rockefeller has a bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University and a Masters of Public and Private Management from Yale University.

About Weather Trends International

Weather Trends International (WTI) is the global leader of actionable year-ahead business weather guidance for retailers, manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, agricultural firms, financial analysts and consumers worldwide. The company’s business-to-business clients include some of the world’s most respected and successful companies such as Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Target, AutoZone, Anheuser-Busch, Johnson & Johnson, Clorox, Energizer, 3M, JP Morgan and Hershey’s. Its business-centric weather solutions and understanding of how consumers respond to the weather is used throughout organizations to help “manage the weather risk.” Utilizing technology first developed in the early 1990s, WTI’s unique, statistical, math-based forecasting methodology projects temperature, precipitation and snowfall trends up to a year ahead for 6.4 million locations in all 195 countries with industry-leading 80%+ accuracy (as verified in an independent audit by Forecast Watch). The company has received 12 business and technology awards and in 2009 was listed #5 on Forbes’ list of America’s Most Promising Companies. WTI is headquartered in Bethlehem, PA with offices in Bentonville, AR. For more information, visit http://www.wxtrends.com or http://www.wt360.com.