One of the only benefits for locals is the substantial reduction in the numbers of mosquitos. There are almost none here, unlike anything in the past. While good for humans not so much for birds that rely heavily on flying insects as a food source. Also affected are our hummingbird populations. Normally they'd be buzzing all over but the March heat wave coupled with a couple near single digit cold nights in May as well as the dry conditions resulted in very few flowering plants and as such a total absence of hummingbirds.  Moose and deer that always spend time in our yard and those of our neighbors also entirely absent this year.