Election Day Forecast: Could Weather Have an Impact?

Brian Donegan
Published: November 6,2016
Election Day is just a couple days away, and you may be wondering what conditions will be like as you head out to the polls Tuesday. Could the weather possibly turn the Senate race, or even the presidency?
The good news is that we're not expecting a major storm anywhere in the U.S. for Election Day.
(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
However, some inclement weather is possible in a few spots. Let's take a region-by-region tour of Tuesday's forecast.

Election Day Forecast

Northeast

Fortunately, a stronger area of low pressure should remain sufficiently offshore, southeast of Atlantic Canada, to have zero impact on the weather near the Northeast seaboard.
There is a cold front that will push toward the eastern Great Lakes, with a threat of rain showers associated with that. While most of the rain should hold off until after the polls close, a few showers could sneak into northwest Pennsylvania and western New York.
Elsewhere, the weather should be dry and mild.
Highs will be above average for the second week of November, generally in the 50s in New York state and New England, and 60s from New York City southward into the mid-Atlantic states.
(FORECAST: Boston | New York | Pittsburgh | Washington D.C.)

South

The greatest chance for wet weather will be in the south-central states, including parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and southwest Tennessee. Dallas, Houston and New Orleans are among the cities where rain is possible.
Elsewhere, dry conditions will prevail through the Southeast.
Temperatures will be near to slightly above average for much of the region, with the greatest departures from average in the Tennessee Valley where highs will be up to 15 degrees warmer than average. This translates to highs mainly in the 70s to perhaps even near 80 degrees along the Gulf Coast and in central and southern Florida.
(FORECAST: Atlanta | Miami | Memphis, Tennessee | Dallas)

Midwest

A cold front will be sliding across the Great Lakes on Election Day, bringing a low to moderate chance for a few showers out ahead of it. The best chance for wet weather looks to be in Lower Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
However, most midwesterners will stay dry as they head to the polls.
No cold weather is expected with high temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above average across the entire region, this corresponds to highs in the 50s and 60s for most locations.
(FORECAST: Detroit | Chicago | Minneapolis | St. Louis)

West

The majority of the West is currently expected to be dry and pleasant with sunshine and above-average temperatures (away from the immediate coast).
Highs will range from the 50s and 60s across the Northwest, to the 70s and 80s in Southern California and the Desert Southwest. Localized areas in the typical hot spots could crack the 90-degree mark.
(FORECAST: Los Angeles | Denver | Seattle | Salt Lake City)

MORE: Election Day Photos