Fourth of July Weekend Weather: Storms Possible in Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest

Brian Donegan
Published: June 27,2016

The Fourth of July weekend could be filled with stormy weather for parts of the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Midwest, which could impact your outdoor plans, including fireworks. Meanwhile, the heat will be the story for much of the West. In the Northeast, temperatures will be close to seasonal averages and conditions are expected to be mainly dry.
(MORE: 10-day Planner Maps)
The overall weather pattern throughout the holiday weekend will feature a ridge of high pressure, or a bulge in the jet stream, over the West and a trough of low pressure, a southward dip in the jet stream, in the East.

Saturday's Jet Stream Forecast

The result of this pattern is continued heat in the West, but it prevents any persistent heat in the East as frequent cold fronts move through. It will allow for comfortable temperatures and humidity levels in the Northeast for the holiday weekend.
(MORE: Four Things to Look For This Week)
Here's what you can expect for your holiday weekend plans:

Saturday

East Forecast for 4th of July Weekend

Overview

• Wet areas: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible from the central and northern Plains to the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, as well as portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. A few thunderstorms will also develop in parts of the Southwest and into the Rockies.
• Dry areas: Much of the Northeast, southern Plains and West coast will enjoy dry conditions.
• High temperatures: Highs will be in the 80s and 90s in the East. However, parts of the Great Lakes region and Upper Midwest may see temperatures hold in the 70s. Parts of the West will soar into the 90s and even 100s in the Desert Southwest. Coastal areas of the West will see highs mainly in the 70s.

(FORECAST: New York | Miami | St. Louis | Denver | Los Angeles)

Sunday

West Forecast for 4th of July Weekend

Overview

• Wet areas: Parts of the Mid-Mississippi Valley to the Southeast run the risk for scattered showers and thunderstorms, as will portions of the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms may also develop in the Plains and Four Corners region.
• Dry areas: Much of the Northeast, Midwest and West will all enjoy sunshine and dry weather.
• High temperatures: Highs will be in the 80s across a large swath of the country. the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern Minnesota will hold in the 70s, while 90s and 100s are likely across the South and much of the West. Coastal areas of the West will once again see highs in the 70s.

(FORECAST: Boston | Nashville | Chicago | Las Vegas | Seattle)

Fourth of July (Monday)

Fourth of July Forecast

Overview

• Wet areas: The Southeast and Lower Mississippi Valley will see the threat for scattered showers and thunderstorms. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are also possible in portions of the Plains and the Four Corners region.
• Dry areas: The Northeast, Midwest and much of the West will all enjoy sunshine and dry weather.
• High temperatures: Highs mostly in the 70s and 80s are expected across the Northeast and Midwest, while the Southeast will temperatures reach the 80s and 90s. The Plains will see temperatures soar into the 90s, with a few 100s in Texas and 80s in parts of the Dakotas. Much of the West will be in the 90s, with 100s in the Desert Southwest and along the coast and in the higher elevations high temperatures will be mainly in the 70s.

(FORECAST: Washington, D.C. | Atlanta | Dallas | Minneapolis | San Francisco)