FOX44 - Burlington / Plattsburgh News, Weather & SportsMild Winter Is Melting Sales

Steve Glazier

Mild Winter Is Melting Sales

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  • Local Stories

  • Saturday, May 26 2012 7:13 PM EDT2012-05-26 23:13:50 GMT
    Today is the first official day of hiking season in Vermont, so many people are flocking to the mountains. "Hiking, biking... a little bit of BBQ." Not a bad weekend forecast, those are Patricia Gabel's
    Today is the first official day of hiking season in Vermont, so many people are flocking to the mountains.

  • Saturday, May 26 2012 7:03 PM EDT2012-05-26 23:03:36 GMT
    Some more help tonight for victims of Tropical Storm Irene. Its been eight months, but many families are just now getting back into their homes, to help with the damaged landscaping, the FEMA funded organization
    Some more help tonight for victims of Tropical Storm Irene.  Its been eight months, but many families are just now getting back into their homes, to help with the damaged landscaping, the FEMA funded organization "Starting Over Strong Vermont" organized a plant give away for flood survivors in one of the hardest hit areas today.

  • Saturday, May 26 2012 2:06 PM EDT2012-05-26 18:06:33 GMT
    (AP) - Vermont police say alcohol appears to be a factor in a single-vehicle car crash that killed a 25-year-old woman. Colchester police say a car being driven at a high speed lost control
    Vermont police say alcohol appears to be a factor in a single-vehicle car crash that killed a 25-year-old woman.

  • Saturday, May 26 2012 2:04 PM EDT2012-05-26 18:04:45 GMT
    (AP) - Federal prosecutors in Vermont say they are considering filing charges against a Massachusetts man suspected of killing a woman in Dummerston last summer that could carry a possible death
    Federal prosecutors in Vermont say they are considering filing charges against a Massachusetts man suspected of killing a woman in Dummerston last summer that could carry a possible death sentence.

  • Saturday, May 26 2012 2:02 PM EDT2012-05-26 18:02:40 GMT
    (AP) - The number of Lyme disease cases has been dropping in New Hampshire, and public health officials hope it stays that way. With tick season under way, the state Division of Public Health
    The number of Lyme disease cases has been dropping in New Hampshire, and public health officials hope it stays that way.

  • Saturday, May 26 2012 2:00 PM EDT2012-05-26 18:00:54 GMT
    (AP) - A developer is pulling the plug on a proposal to build two wind turbines on farms in the Vermont border town of Derby. Chad Farrell of Encore Redevelopment says he's withdrawn his plan near
    A developer is pulling the plug on a proposal to build two wind turbines on farms in the Vermont border town of Derby. Chad Farrell of Encore Redevelopment says he's withdrawn his plan near the Canadian border because of mounting costs and an international dispute over his proposal.

  • Saturday, May 26 2012 1:58 PM EDT2012-05-26 17:58:50 GMT
    (AP) - The public will have a chance to visit the Vermont National Guard's Fallen Heroes Memorial at Camp Johnson this Memorial Day weekend. The memorial and the Vermont Veterans Memorial Library
    (AP) - The public will have a chance to visit the Vermont National Guard's Fallen Heroes Memorial at Camp Johnson this Memorial Day weekend. The memorial and the Vermont Veterans Memorial Library

  • Friday, May 25 2012 8:59 PM EDT2012-05-26 00:59:42 GMT
    It wouldn't be a holiday weekend without a BBQ. That means hamburgers for a lot of people. But a new study says our burgers, like Americans, are getting bigger, a lot bigger. The CDC says sixty-years
    A new study says our burgers, like Americans, are getting bigger, a lot bigger.

  • Friday, May 25 2012 5:53 PM EDT2012-05-25 21:53:18 GMT
    A Burlington man will spend up to a week in jail after police say he chased a man with a knife and threatened to kill him. Wesley Alexander, 51, pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault Friday in a Burlington
    A Burlington man will spend up to a week in jail after police say he chased a man with a knife and threatened to kill him.

  • Friday, May 25 2012 5:48 PM EDT2012-05-25 21:48:22 GMT
    As workers were getting ready for last summer's Lamoille County Field Days tragedy struck. A Castle Rock Amusements worker died after police say he got sucked into a large diesel generator. Nearly a
    As summer approaches and carnival's come to our area, we're reminded of the horrible tragedy of the amusement park worker who died last year at the Lamoille County Field Days.

I was glancing over some American Meteorological News headlines yesterday and saw this one that caught my eye.  It is about the mild weather and the impact that is having on the retail front.

According to a research firm Planalytics, demand for boots in December was down about 20 percent from one year ago.  Planalytics, which tracks weather's effect on businesses, also reported a decline of 70% for snow-removal gear in January so far compared to last year. 

According to the New York Times, Home Depot is already cutting back on de-icing orders.  The mild weather is also impacting the flu season so far, with less flu infections this year.  According to Citigroup, Walgreens has given 5.3 million flu shots this year compared to 6 million last year.

Kohl's has had a "sluggish winter season" in terms of sales.  On the front page of JC Penny's web site, I saw this ad already slipping it into the bottom-right side of the picture:

How about Lowe's?!

50% off selected heating items?! Sounds good to me! Also getting 'ahead' of the curve with offers on chainsaws.

From feast to famine this year is proving to be much different than last year.  Here is an update on how much snow the Burlington area has seen so far this winter:

2011-2012:   22.1"

Average:       39.6"

Last Year:     53.3"

In regards to temperatures, December was (+4.8°) for average temperature and January is (+3.2°) so far.

-Meteorologist Steve Glazier

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