We don't usually think of weather reports impacting our stock analysis, but the two may have more in common than you might think. Of course, natural disasters like Japan's tsunami or a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico hits some companies hard, but we've seen more common weather impact production in other ways as well this year.
It's been a record warm year in most of the country, with record low snowfalls through much of the U.S. -- and it's the first brown January in Minnesota that this Fool can remember.
Water and electronics don't mix
Many tech companies have warned of disruptions recently because of flooding in Thailand. Seagate
The fallout is expected to move further down the production line to PC makers this year as supply chains become constrained because of production issues. Weather reports in Thailand may not be something that keeps you up at night, but conditions are having a huge impact on the world's electronics supply chain.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
Warm weather across the U.S. may be a pleasant surprise for most of us, but ski resorts are catching a bit of karma after a record setting year last year. Vail Resorts
The dry winter may also have an impact on rivers and streams in the spring. California's agriculture and water supply depends on water from the Sierra Nevadas, where conditions haven't been this dry since the 1800s. The reduced snowfall could impact everything from agricultural commodity prices to plants that may face water restrictions, and even Las Vegas' water supply.
Storm clouds are coming
A year ago, it was coal production that was affected by flooding in Australia. This year, it's flooding in Thailand affecting electronics. Who knows what's next, but Mother Nature will have an impact on business again before you know it.
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