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

Brian Donegan
Published: June 30,2016
The Fourth of July weekend may 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 Northeast.

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 will continue to move through. This will allow for comfortable temperatures and humidity levels in the Northeast for the holiday weekend.
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 Tennessee Valley, as well as portions of the southern mid-Atlantic, northern New England 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. Keep in mind, however, that the Northeast will be quite breezy, so you may need something to weigh down those table cloths on your picnic tables.
• High temperatures: Highs will be in the 80s and 90s in the East. However, parts of New England, the Great Lakes region and the 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. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms may also develop in the Plains and Four Corners region.
• Dry areas: Much of the Northeast, Upper 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. Portions of the Midwest and central Plains 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, mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and parts of the Midwest will see the threat for scattered showers and thunderstorms. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are also possible in portions of the Plains.
• Dry areas: The Northeast and much of the West will all enjoy sunshine and dry weather.
• High temperatures: Highs mostly in the 80s are expected across the Northeast and Midwest, while the Southeast will reach the 90s. The Plains will see temperatures climb into the 80s and 90s, with a few 100s in Texas. 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)