Accuweather meteorologist Henry Margusity explains the role of weather in the Swine Flu outbreak and why the disease can spread in warm weather.

We normally think of the flu as a winter hazard, exacerbated by close contact indoors with infected people. But warm weather also promotes spread of the disease because increased travel raises risks of a pandemic.

What is the role of weather in spreading the flu?

"The main way the flu is transmitted is through contact with an infected person or [direct] contact with a [live] pig that is infected," said AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity. "In people, the Swine Influenza is thought to spread mainly person to person through coughing or sneezing. It is not spread by food."

At this time, human-to-human contact is the major way the virus is thought to spread, and weather certainly influences our behavior, in ways that may promote spread of the virus.

"The warmer weather means more people gathering for events and therefore more people coming in contact with an infected person," Margusity said.

"The nice weather of spring means more vacations and more people traveling. We have noticed that some of the cases may be related to people traveling into Mexico during spring break," he said.

It appears that the flu is a fair weather foe after all.

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