Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted April 5, 2024

April 5, 2024Posted inweatherNo Comments

It is difficult to find a more comprehensive Weather Outlook anywhere else with the ability to get a local 10-day Forecast also.

This article focuses on what we are paying attention to in the next 48 to 72 hours. The article also includes weather maps for longer-term U.S. outlooks and a six-day World weather outlook which can be very useful for travelers.

First the NWS Short Range Forecast. The afternoon NWS text update can be found here but it is unlikely to have changed very much. The images in this article automatically update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Fri Apr 05 2024
Valid 12Z Fri Apr 05 2024 – 12Z Sun Apr 07 2024

…Wet snow lingers over northern New England into Saturday…

…Widespread mountain snow moves across the interior western U.S…

…High Winds expected to impact the Four Corners today, spreading across
the Rockies and High Plains on Saturday, reaching into the central Plains
by Sunday…

…Severe thunderstorms possible over the central Plains later on Saturday
into early Sunday…

…Critical Fire Risk for central/southern High Plains through this
weekend…

The nor’easter that has been impacting New England with heavy snow inland
and strong winds near the coast will gradually weaken but will take its
time exiting into the Atlantic. Widespread wet snow mixed with rain over
the lower elevations can be expected to continue through today before
becoming more scattered on Saturday. 4-8 inches of new snow may still
accumulate as the parent low lingers nearby. The snow is expected to
taper off to snow showers by Sunday morning as the huge circulation of the
system finally moves farther away into the Atlantic.

Meanwhile, a rather dynamic upper trough along with the associated surface
low pressure system are pushing into the interior western U.S. This
system will bring widespread mountain snow across the Great Basin today,
followed by the northern and central Rockies on Saturday. The potent cold
front trailing south from the low pressure center will likely impact the
Four Corners states with high winds today into tonight as the front
approaches and forcefully passes through the region.
By Saturday, this system will consolidate and quickly intensify as it
emerges over the Front Range. High winds, warm weather and low dew points
will support a critical fire danger over parts of the central and southern
High Plains through at least Sunday. Winds could become especially strong
and potentially damaging near the foothills of the central Rockies
Saturday night into early Sunday right behind the intensifying low
pressure system. Wind-driven rain is forecast to quickly expand across
the central Plains Saturday night into early Sunday around the rapidly
intensifying system, with severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rain
possible just ahead of the low center.

With a huge omega upper-level blocking pattern setting up across the U.S.
through the weekend, below average temperatures are expected across the
West and East while above average temperatures will remain over the
central U.S.

To get your local forecast plus active alerts and warnings click HERE and enter your city, state or zip code.

Above is a 72 hour animation of the forecast. Learn about wave patterns HERE.

Then, looking at the world and of course, the U.S. shows here also. Today we are looking at precipitation.

Please click on “Read More” below to access the full Daily Report issued today.

04 Apr 2023 Market Close & Major Financial Headlines: Markets Opened Moderately Higher, Traded Sideways Until 2 PM, Then Fell Sharply, Closing Deep Into The Red

April 4, 2024Posted inmarketsNo Comments

Summary Of the Markets Today:

  • The Dow closed down 530 points or 1.35%,
  • Nasdaq closed down 1.40%,
  • S&P 500 closed down 1.23%,
  • Gold $2,304 down $11.10,
  • WTI crude oil settled at $87 up $1.12,
  • 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.309% down 0.046 points,
  • USD index $104.26 up $0.010,
  • Bitcoin $68,325 up $2.434 (2.72%),

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – March 2024 Economic Forecast: A Modest Improvement In Our Index Predicting Little Change In Main Street Growth

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

U.S.-based employers announced 90,309 job cuts in March 2024, up 7% from the 84,638 cuts announced in February, and virtually the same as (+0.7%) the 89,703 cuts announced in the same month last year. It is the highest monthly total since 102,943 cuts occurred in January 2023, according to a report released Thursday from global outplacement and leadership development and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. ,” Andy Challenger, Senior Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. stated:

Layoffs certainly ticked up to round out the first quarter, though below last year’s levels. Many companies appear to be reverting to a ‘do more with less’ approach. While Technology continues to lead all industries so far this year, several industries, including Energy and Industrial Manufacturing, are cutting more jobs this year than last.

March 2024 Challenger Job Cuts Report Chart; Layoffs by month January 2021 - March 2024

February 2024 exports were up 5.9% year-over-year. February imports were up 3.6% year-over-year.. The February increase in the goods and services deficit increased but is still down 1.7% year-over-year. Trade continues to be lower than pre-pandemic levels.

In the week ending March 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims 4-week moving average was 214,250, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 500 from 211,000 to 211,500. This is the highest level since 27January2024.

NFIB’s monthly jobs report shows a general slowdown in employment activity for small businesses in March, with a seasonally adjusted net 11% planning to create new jobs in the next three months, down one point from February and the lowest level since May 2020. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg added:

Job openings on Main Street are now in line with the levels before the pandemic. Even with the slowdown in openings, the small business labor market remains tight, and owners continue to compete to retain and recruit employees.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted April 4, 2024

April 4, 2024Posted inweatherNo Comments

It is difficult to find a more comprehensive Weather Outlook anywhere else with the ability to get a local 10-day Forecast also.

This article focuses on what we are paying attention to in the next 48 to 72 hours. The article also includes weather maps for longer-term U.S. outlooks and a six-day World weather outlook which can be very useful for travelers.

First the NWS Short Range Forecast. The afternoon NWS text update can be found here but it is unlikely to have changed very much. The images in this article automatically update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Thu Apr 04 2024
Valid 12Z Thu Apr 04 2024 – 12Z Sat Apr 06 2024

…Heavy snow over Upstate New York, Northern New England, the Sierra
Nevada Mountains, and Central Appalachians on Thursday…

…Moderate to heavy snow over the Northern Intermountain Region on
Friday…

…Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees below average over parts of the
Ohio Valley…

A deep storm over the Great Lakes and the Northeast will slowly move off
the Northeast Coast by Saturday. The system will produce heavy, wet snow
over north-central New England and northeast New York and later spread
north through Maine on Thursday. Snowfall rates then decrease, but snow
continues over Northern New England into Friday. Snowfall accumulations of
1-2 feet are 60 to 70 % likelihood for much of Northern New England and
the northeast part of the Adirondacks. Furthermore, heavy snow will
develop over parts of the Central Appalachians.

The system will create significant impacts from heavy snow and wind. The
combination of heavy snow rates and gusty winds will lead to dangerous
travel conditions, with whiteout conditions and snow-covered roads. The
combination of wet snow, high snow load, and strong wind gusts could also
result in tree damage and power outages.

Moreover, prolonged onshore winds will continue through Thursday,
resulting in moderate coastal flooding for portions of the northern
Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England Coast. Impacts include widespread
roadway flooding, coastal and bayside flooding, impassable roads, and some
damage to vulnerable structures. Snow will linger over the Central
Appalachians through late Friday night, while the snow will linger over
parts of the Northeast from Friday into Saturday morning. The temperatures
will be 10 to 20 degrees below average over parts of the Ohio Valley.
Also, showers and thunderstorms could occur over parts of the Eastern Ohio
Valley through northern Mid-Atlantic on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a front over the Northern High Plains, Great Basin, and
Southern California will move eastward to the Northern/Central/Southern
High Plains by Saturday. The system will create coastal rain and
higher-elevation snow over parts of the Pacific Northwest/Northern
Intermountain Region and Northern California on Thursday morning,
expanding into Central/Southern California Thursday evening into Friday.
Heavy snow will develop over the Sierra Nevada Mountains on Thursday. The
snow will continue over the Northwest through Saturday. Moderate to heavy
snow will develop over the Northern Intermountain Region on Friday. The
snow will linger over the Sierra Nevada Mountains through Saturday, while
the snow moves into the Great Basin, Southwest, and Central/Southern
Rockies Friday evening into Saturday.

To get your local forecast plus active alerts and warnings click HERE and enter your city, state or zip code.

Above is a 72 hour animation of the forecast. Learn about wave patterns HERE.

Then, looking at the world and of course, the U.S. shows here also. Today we are looking at precipitation.

Please click on “Read More” below to access the full Daily Report issued today.

03 Apr 2023 Market Close & Major Financial Headlines: Markets Opened Fractionally Down, Trended Higher, Closing Mixed

April 3, 2024Posted inmarketsNo Comments

Summary Of the Markets Today:

  • The Dow closed down 43 points or 0.11%,
  • Nasdaq closed up 0.23%,
  • S&P 500 closed up 0.11%,
  • Gold $2,317 up $35.10,
  • WTI crude oil settled at $86 up $0.42,
  • 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.351% down 0.014 points,
  • USD index $104.27 down $0.550,
  • Bitcoin $65,846 down $224 (0.35%)

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – March 2024 Economic Forecast: A Modest Improvement In Our Index Predicting Little Change In Main Street Growth

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

Private employers added 184,000 jobs in March 2024 and pay for job-stayers rose 5.1% year-over-year
according to ADP. The biggest news was in pay for job-stayers, which jumped to 10 percent. Inflation has been cooling, but our data shows that pay is heating up in both goods and services. Over the past several months, I believe the BLS has been overstating their headline jobs growth numbers as the discrepancy between the establishment and household surveys have been growing – and the AD numbers may be closer to the real gains. In any event, jobs growth gains have been strong which becomes a force against any reduction in the federal funds rate.

In March 2024, the ISM Services PMI® registered 51.4 percent, 1.2 percentage points lower than February’s reading of 52.6 percent. The Business Activity sub-Index registered 57.4 percent in March, which is 0.2 percentage point higher than the 57.2 percent recorded in February. As the US is a service oriented economy, this low reading implies economic slowing.

 

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

  • The Next Gold Rush: Lithium Surge Creates New Investment Opportunities
  • Breakthrough in OLED Technology Could Revolutionize Tech Displays
  • BofA Sees Summer Oil Price Peak at $95 Per Barrel
  • Gold Prices Have Surged 23.3% in the Last Six Months
  • Oil Moves Higher on Fuel Inventory Draws
  • Xiaomi’s EV Launch Shakes Up China’s Auto Industry
  • Fed’s Powell emphasizes need for more evidence that inflation is easing before cutting rates
  • Dow closes lower for a third day as stocks’ second-quarter woes continue: Live updates
  • Intel drops almost 8% after chipmaker reports hefty loss in foundry business
  • Private payrolls increased by 184,000 in March, better than expected, ADP says
  • Long-term Treasury yields end near November highs after Fed’s Powell delivers economic outlook

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

Is ENSO Static? Are they all Alike? Is there a Trend? – Posted on April 3, 2024

April 3, 2024Posted inClimate2 Comments

There was a very interesting blog post on ENSO.Gov that tries to assess this El Nino in the context of other El Ninos and I think they have done a very good job. I have reproduced the blog post in this article. Those who want access to any comments that have been submitted to that blog post can find the post HERE. Remember that all posts on the Climate.Gov ENSO Blog are attributed to the author who in this case is Nat Johnson. All the ENSO Blog posts are excellent. This one is beyond excellent.

The above shows that the current El Nino which is winding down has been pretty close to what would be expected from a typical El Nino. It also shows how both the typical El Nino and the current El Nino compare to Normal or Climatology. You can easily see the differences. The analysis is for the Meteorological Winter months of December through February.

There is a lot more to this blog Post so some readers will need to click on “Read More” to access the rest of this very interesting analysis.  If you accessed this article via the url you will already have the full article and will not need to click on “Read More”.

Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted April 3, 2024

April 3, 2024Posted inweatherNo Comments

It is difficult to find a more comprehensive Weather Outlook anywhere else with the ability to get a local 10-day Forecast also.

This article focuses on what we are paying attention to in the next 48 to 72 hours. The article also includes weather maps for longer-term U.S. outlooks and a six-day World weather outlook which can be very useful for travelers.

First the NWS Short Range Forecast. The afternoon NWS text update can be found here but it is unlikely to have changed very much. The images in this article automatically update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
400 AM EDT Wed Apr 03 2024

Valid 12Z Wed Apr 03 2024 – 12Z Fri Apr 05 2024

…Heavy snow over the Upper Great Lakes, Upstate New York, and Northern
New England on Wednesday; Heavy snow over the Sierra Nevada Mountains and
Central Appalachians on Thursday…

…There is a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall over parts of the
Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England on Wednesday…

…There is a Sight Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the
Mid-Atlantic Coast to the Southeast Coast and Florida peninsula on
Wednesday…

A deep storm over the Great Lakes will move southeastward to the
Mid-Atlantic Coast by Thursday evening and northeastward to the Gulf of
Maine by Friday. The system will produce a late-season winter storm across
portions of the Great Lakes and the Northeast from Wednesday into Friday.
The western portion of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is forecast to
receive heavy snow through Wednesday evening. Snowfall accumulations of as
much as 1 to 2 feet are expected in parts of northern Wisconsin and the
western portion of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The same storm will produce Northeast snow and wind Wednesday through
Friday. Heavy, wet snow and some sleet will spread into the Northeast on
Wednesday and continue into Friday. Portions of northern New York and
Northern New England will likely see significant snow accumulations of
over 12 inches.

The system will create significant impacts from heavy snow and wind, and
the combination of heavy snow rates and gusty winds will lead to dangerous
travel conditions, with whiteout conditions and snow-covered roads. The
combination of wet snow, high snow load, and strong wind gusts could also
result in tree damage and power outages. On Thursday, heavy snow will
develop over parts of the Central Appalachians.

Furthermore, prolonged onshore winds late Wednesday and continuing through
Thursday will result in moderate coastal flooding for portions of the
Northeast Coast. Impacts include widespread roadway flooding, coastal and
bayside flooding, impassable roads, and some damage to vulnerable
structures.

Moreover, along the associated front extending from the Lower Great Lakes
to the Central Appalachians southward to the Central Gulf Coast will move
off most of the East Coast overnight Wednesday. The boundary will aid in
producing showers, and severe thunderstorms will develop over parts of the
Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Coast. Therefore, the SPC has issued a Slight
Risk (level 2/5) of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Mid-Atlantic
Coast to the Southeast Coast and Florida peninsula through Thursday
morning. The hazards associated with these thunderstorms are frequent
lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, hail, and a few tornadoes.

Showers and thunderstorms will produce heavy rain over parts of the
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Therefore, the WPC has issued a Slight Risk
(level 2/4) of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Mid-Atlantic and
Southern New England through Thursday morning. The associated heavy rain
will create mainly localized areas of flash flooding, with urban areas,
roads, and small streams the most vulnerable. The threat of severe
thunderstorms and excessive rainfall ends on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a front moving inland over the Pacific Northwest into Northern
California will move eastward to the Northern Rockies to the Great Basin
and Southwest by Friday. On Wednesday, the system will create coastal rain
and higher-elevation snow over parts of the Pacific Northwest/ Northern
Intermountain Region, moving inland to the Northern Intermountain Region,
Great Basin, and Northern California overnight. The snow levels will lower
after the front passes by over the Northwest. The coast/lower elevation
rain and higher elevation snow will continue over the Pacific
Northwest/Northern Intermountain Region through Friday.

On Thursday, rain and higher-elevation snow will move into Central
California and expand into the Great Basin. Overnight Thursday, rain will
move into Southern California. Heavy snow will develop over the Sierra
Nevada Mountains on Thursday into Friday.

To get your local forecast plus active alerts and warnings click HERE and enter your city, state or zip code.

Above is a 72 hour animation of the forecast. Learn about wave patterns HERE.

Then, looking at the world and of course, the U.S. shows here also. Today we are looking at precipitation.

Please click on “Read More” below to access the full Daily Report issued today.

02 Apr 2023 Market Close & Major Financial Headlines: Dow Opened Nearly 500 Points In The Red, Markets Continued Trading Mostly Sideways, Closing Sharply Lower, And Bitcoin Tumbles 5%

April 2, 2024Posted inmarketsNo Comments

Summary Of the Markets Today:

  • The Dow closed down 395 points or 1.00%,
  • Nasdaq closed down 0.95%,
  • S&P 500 closed down 0.72%,
  • Gold $2,297 up $40.00,
  • WTI crude oil settled at $85 up $1.45,
  • 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.355% up 0.026 points,
  • USD index $104.78 down $0.240,
  • Bitcoin $66,028 down $3,404 (4.90%)

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – March 2024 Economic Forecast: A Modest Improvement In Our Index Predicting Little Change In Main Street Growth

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

New orders for manufactured goods in February 2024 was up 3.6% year-over-year (versus the Federal Reserve’s IP which was down 0.5% year-over-year). Does this mean the manufacturing recession is ending – it will take a few months more of data to know for sure.

The number of job openings changed little at 8.8 million on the last business day of February 2024 – and as this number has been little changed over the last 5 months, one would expect little change in the rate of growth for employment. Over the month, the number of hires and total separations were little changed at 5.8 million and 5.6 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.5 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) changed little.

U.S. annual home price growth remained mostly consistent with numbers seen since last fall in February but finally slowed as the residual impact of comparing gains with weak 2022 home prices wore off. CoreLogic projects that year-over-year home price gains will continue to rise at a slower pace for the rest of 2024, which suggests more certainty for potential homebuyers who have been waiting to get a foot in the door. Dr. Selma Hepp, chief economist for CoreLogic noted:

Home price growth pivoted in February, as the impact of the January 2023 Home Price Index bottom finally faded.  As a result, the U.S. should begin to see slowing annual home price gains moving forward. Nevertheless, with a 0.7% increase from January to February 2024, which is almost double the monthly increase recorded before the pandemic, spring home price gains are already off to a strong start despite continued mortgage rate volatility. That said, more inventory finally coming to market will likely translate to more options for buyers and fewer bidding wars, which typically keeps outsized price growth in check. Still, despite affordability challenges, homebuyer demand appears to favor already expensive, coastal markets with a limited availability of properties for sale.

 

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

 

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted April 2, 2024

April 2, 2024Posted inweatherNo Comments

It is difficult to find a more comprehensive Weather Outlook anywhere else with the ability to get a local 10-day Forecast also.

This article focuses on what we are paying attention to in the next 48 to 72 hours. The article also includes weather maps for longer-term U.S. outlooks and a six-day World weather outlook which can be very useful for travelers.

First the NWS Short Range Forecast. The afternoon NWS text update can be found here but it is unlikely to have changed very much. The images in this article automatically update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Tue Apr 02 2024
Valid 12Z Tue Apr 02 2024 – 12Z Thu Apr 04 2024

…Heavy snow over the Upper Great Lakes/Upper Mississippi Valley on
Tuesday and Wednesday; Heavy snow over Upstate New York and Northern New
England on Wednesday…

…There is a Moderate Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Ohio
Valleys on Tuesday and two areas of Slight Risk over parts of the
Mid-Atlantic and Florida peninsula on Wednesday…

…There is a Sight Risk of excessive rainfall over parts of the Lower
Great Lakes, Ohio/Tennessee Valleys, and Central Appalachians on Tuesday…

A deep storm over the Middle Mississippi and Ohio Valleys will move to
Southern New England by Thursday. The system will produce a large,
long-duration winter storm, producing gusty winds and late-season heavy
snow across portions of the Great Lakes and the Northeast from Tuesday
into Friday. The Upper Great Lakes are forecast to receive heavy snow.
Heavy snow will have a 60 to 70 percent likelihood of developing over
Wisconsin by Tuesday evening and expanding into the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan overnight Tuesday. Snow will continue over much of the region
through Wednesday, with additional heavy snow across the Upper Peninsula
of Michigan, before ending on Thursday.

The same storm will produce Northeast snow and wind Wednesday-Friday.
Secondary low-pressure development along the Mid-Atlantic coast will have
a 60 to 70 percent likelihood of bringing heavy, wet snow and some sleet
to the Northeast Wednesday afternoon through Friday. Significant snow
accumulations are likely over Upstate New York and Northern New England.
The system will create significant impacts from heavy snow and wind, and
the combination of heavy snow rates and gusty winds will create a 60 to 70
percent likelihood of hazardous travel due to low visibility and
snow-covered roads. The wet snow and high snow load may also damage trees
and impact infrastructure.

Moreover, along the associated front extending from the Mid-Atlantic to
the Ohio/Middle Mississippi Valleys, showers and severe thunderstorms will
develop over parts of the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys. Therefore, the SPC has
issued a Moderate Risk (level 4/5) of severe thunderstorms over parts of
the Ohio Valley through Wednesday morning. The hazards associated with
these thunderstorms are frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind
gusts, hail, and a few tornadoes. In addition, there is an increased
threat of EF2 � EF5 tornados over parts of the Ohio/Tennessee/Lower
Mississippi Valleys. Additionally, there is an increased threat of severe
thunderstorm wind gusts of 65 knots or greater over parts of the Ohio
Valley and a small portion of the Tennessee Valley. Further, there is an
increased threat of two-inch or greater hail over parts of the Ohio Valley.

The storms will also produce heavy rain. Therefore, the WPC has issued a
Slight Risk (level 2/4) of excessive rainfall over parts of the Lower
Great Lakes, Ohio/Tennessee Valleys, and Central Appalachians through
Wednesday morning. The associated heavy rain will create mainly localized
areas of flash flooding, with urban areas, roads, and small streams the
most vulnerable.

Showers and severe thunderstorms will develop over two areas as the front
moves across the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Southeast. Therefore, the
SPC has issued a Slight Risk (level 2/5) of severe thunderstorms over
parts of the Mid-Atlantic and a second area over the Florida peninsula
from Wednesday into Thursday morning. The hazards associated with these
thunderstorms are frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts,
hail, and a few tornadoes.

However, the threat of excessive rainfall will be limited to a Marginal
Risk over parts of northern Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England from
Wednesday through Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, a front over the Eastern Pacific will move onshore over the
Pacific Northwest by late Tuesday afternoon and move eastward to the
Northern Rockies to the Great Basin and Southern California by Thursday.
The system will create coastal rain and higher-elevation snow moving
inland to the Northern Intermountain Region, Great Basin, and Northern
California overnight Wednesday into Thursday.

To get your local forecast plus active alerts and warnings click HERE and enter your city, state or zip code.

Above is a 72 hour animation of the forecast. Learn about wave patterns HERE.

Then, looking at the world and of course, the U.S. shows here also. Today we are looking at precipitation.

Please click on “Read More” below to access the full Daily Report issued today.

01 Apr 2023 Market Close & Major Financial Headlines: Markets Opened Mixed, Traded Mostly Sideways And Down, Closing Mixed

April 1, 2024Posted inmarketsNo Comments

Summary Of the Markets Today:

  • The Dow closed down 241 points or 0.60%,
  • Nasdaq closed up 0.11%,
  • S&P 500 closed down 0.20%,
  • Gold $2,262 up $23.80,
  • WTI crude oil settled at $84 up $0.75,
  • 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.321% up 0.127 points,
  • USD index $104.98 up $0.430,
  • Bitcoin $69,680 down $1,245   (1.72%)

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – March 2024 Economic Forecast: A Modest Improvement In Our Index Predicting Little Change In Main Street Growth

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

Construction spending during February 2024 was 10.7% above February 2023. Construction has been one of the bright spots in the economy.

The ISM Manufacturing PMI® registered 50.3 percent in March, up 2.5 percentage points from the 47.8 percent recorded in February.  This is the first time in over 18 months that manufacturing has been in positive territory. Could it be that the manufacturing recession is over? Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee stated:

The Supplier Deliveries Index figure of 49.9 percent is 0.2 percentage point lower than the 50.1 percent recorded in February. (Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM® Report On Business® index that is inversed; a reading of above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries, which is typical as the economy improves and customer demand increases.) The Inventories Index increased 2.9 percentage points to 48.2 percent following a reading of 45.3 percent in February. The New Export Orders Index reading of 51.6 percent is the same reading as registered in February. The Imports Index continued in expansion territory, registering 53 percent, the same figure as in February. Both indexes repeated their highest readings since July 2022, when the New Export Orders Index registered 52.6 percent and the Imports Index registered 54.4 percent.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

  • Permian Oil Producers Eye Next-Gen Nuclear to Cleaner Drilling
  • Oil Prices Up as Iranian Embassy in Syria Leveled in Airstrike
  • Argentina Discusses Natural Gas Exports to Brazil via Bolivia
  • The U.S. Was the World’s Top LNG Exporter in 2023
  • Dow closes more than 200 points lower to begin April as Treasury yields pop: Live updates
  • Railroad CSX adding new freight route on Tuesday to avoid Port of Baltimore after bridge collapse
  • Bitcoin drops below $70,000 to kick off April: CNBC Crypto World
  • Amazon is trying to get rid of its signature brown boxes. The retail shipping giant has a long way to go
  • Gold prices are at an all-time high—but experts like Warren Buffett don’t always recommend investing
  • Fears over persistent inflation resurface in U.S. Treasury market, ushering in volatility
  • Treasury yields post biggest one-day leap in over a month as traders react to latest U.S. data

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

NOAA Updates its April 2023 Weather Outlook – There are Significant Changes which are mostly Wetter – Posted on April 1, 2024

April 1, 2024Posted inweatherNo Comments

At the end of every month, NOAA updates its Outlook for the following month which in this case is April of 2024. We are reporting on that tonight.

There have been some significant changes in the Outlook for April and these are addressed in the NOAA Discussion so it is well worth reading.  We provided the prior Mid-Month Outlook for April for comparison. It is easy to see the changes by comparing the Mid-Month and Updated Maps.

The article includes the Drought Outlook for April. NOAA also adjusted the previously issued Seasonal (AMJ) Drought Outlook to reflect the changes in the April Drought Outlook. We have included a map showing the amount of water in the snowpack waiting to be released in the Spring. We also provide the Week 2/3 Tropical Outlook for the World.  We also include a very interesting CLIMAS Discussion.

The best way to understand the updated outlook for April is to view the maps and read the NOAA discussion. I have highlighted the key statements in the NOAA Discussion.

I am going to start with graphics that show the updated Outlook for April and the Mid-Month Outlook for April. This is followed by a graphic that shows both the Updated Outlook for April and the previously issued three-month outlook for AMJ 2024. So you get the full picture in three graphics.

Here is the updated Outlook for April 2024.

For Comparison Purposes, Here is the earlier Mid-Month Outlook for April

There have been some significant changes. Remember, it is the top set of maps that are the current outlook for April.

Combination of the Updated Outlook for April and the Three-Month Outlook

The top row is the Updated Outlook for the new month. There is a temperature map and a precipitation map. The second row is a three-month outlook that includes the new month. I think the outlook maps are self-explanatory. What is important to remember is that they show deviations from the current definition of normal which is the period 1991 through 2020.  So this is not a forecast of the absolute value of temperature or precipitation but the change from what is defined as normal or to use the technical term climatology.
The three-month map was issued on March 21, 2024.  One expects some changes  10 days later. But the changes to both maps are fairly dramatic.  This then gives us some reason to question the three-month AMJ temperature and  precipitation Outlooks.

Some readers may need to click “Read More” to read the rest of the article.  Some will feel that they have enough information. But there is a lot more information in the rest of this article.