The survey found that 58 percent of adults would not head out for holiday shopping in the event of a forecast of at least 4 inches of snow. Southerners are more likely to delay shopping in inclement winter conditions, with 35 percent stating that just 1-3 inches of snow would hold them back from retail brick-and-mortar stores.
STATE COLLEGE, PA. – AccuWeather announced the results of a national survey that details how winter weather conditions affect consumer behavior by the minute, from road travel to holiday preparations. The AccuWeather MinuteCast study polled 1,000 respondents across the U.S., revealing findings with some stark regional differences.
Winter weather means more car time for Americans. Specifically, the survey found that when winter weather hits, 87 percent of respondents give themselves up to 30 extra minutes when heading out on the road. Regionally, Midwesterners give themselves the most time to account for winter conditions during their daily drive, with 52 percent allotting an extra 16-30 minutes.
As minutes count down to holiday celebrations, weather also has a direct impact on retail shopping. The survey found that 58 percent of adults would not head out for holiday shopping in the event of a forecast of at least 4 inches of snow. Southerners are more likely to delay shopping in inclement winter conditions, with 35 percent stating that just 1-3 inches of snow would hold them back from retail brick-and-mortar stores. In contrast, in the Northeast, 33 percent of respondents stated that it would take a more significant snowfall amount of 7-9 inches to keep them from braving the elements. The survey also found that the majority of respondents did not have to brave bad winter weather to complete their last-minute holiday list last year.
“As the world’s weather leader, AccuWeather understands correlations between weather and consumer behavior through the use of complex data, robust analytics, and additional consumer insights,” said Dr. Joel N. Myers, Founder, President and Chairman of AccuWeather, Inc. “With this leadership and expertise, AccuWeather provides the most unique, innovative products that improve peoples’ lives, including AccuWeather MinuteCast. With MinuteCast, drivers can check minute-by-minute snow and rain conditions at their exact locations, as well as their destinations, allowing them to plan the best times for road travel and holiday shopping and make the most of every minute during the busy holiday season.”
To see how winter weather will impact last-minute shopping this season, go to AccuWeather.com or use the AccuWeather mobile app available on most popular digital devices for weather forecasts with Superior Accuracy, featuring AccuWeather MinuteCast – the unique, patent-based, minute-by-minute precipitation forecast for users’ exact street addresses or GPS locations. It gives users by-the-minute precipitation forecasts for the next two hours, including precipitation type and intensity, start times, and end times for their exact locations. AccuWeather MinuteCast is uniquely supported by both national and international patented technology.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
