Summer Takes the Day Off

The rain fell steadily in Pinole Tuesday morning and afternoon, as most residents retreated indoors for unseasonable respite. Showers are forecast to continue into the evening, with a chance of thunderstorms.

Summer is expected to creep lazily back to work tomorrow with a cloudy but dry day and evening fog in the usual places.

The U.S. National Weather Service is expecting rainfall totals for most locations to be between 0.10 and 0.25 inches, which means that the Bay Area has seen rainier June days in summers past.

But the rain doesn't just cost us a summer's day. It also carries a hefty price tag on a national level.

According to a study authored by researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and published by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, unexpected rain storms and cooler-than-average days can add up to a yearly cost of as much as $485 billon in the United States. Every sector of the economy is sensitive to changes with the weather, according to the study, including finance, manufacturing, and agriculture.

"From wind-driven wildfires, to the timeliness of airplane take-offs and landings, to peak demand for electricity in a hot summer, weather affects every aspect of our lives, and our economy," said Sarah Ruth, program director in NSF's Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences.

Back in Pinole, the cost might be a postponed day in the park and maybe an unplanned but welcome mug of hot cocoa.