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

Brian Donegan
Published: July 2,2016
The Fourth of July weekend may be filled with stormy weather for parts of the Plains, Midwest , Southeast and mid-Atlantic, 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.
The result of this pattern is continued dry conditions and heat in the West, but it prevents any persistent heat in the Northeast. This will allow for comfortable temperatures and humidity levels in the Northeast for the holiday weekend.
One of the big concerns this holiday weekend is the threat for heavy rain from the central Plains into the central Appalachians. Heavy rain and flooding are possible along a boundary that will stretch across this region. A widespread area of 1 to 3 inches is possible and some locations may receive more than 5 inches of rain.
(FORECAST: Heavy Rain, Flood Threat Returns)
Here's what you can expect for your holiday weekend plans:

Sunday

West Forecast for 4th of July Weekend

Overview

• Wet areas: Parts of the central Plains and mid-Mississippi Valley into the mid-Atlantic run the risk for scattered showers and thunderstorms, as will portions of the Southeast. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms may also develop in the northern Plains and Rockies.
• Dry areas: Much of the Northeast, Upper Midwest and West will all enjoy sunshine and dry weather. While the Northeast will still be a touch breezy, winds will be calmer than Saturday. Gusty winds are also possible in portions of the Plains.
• High temperatures: Highs will be in the 80s across a large swath of the country. Portions of the Northeast, 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 South, mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and parts of the Midwest and Northeast will see the threat for scattered showers and thunderstorms. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are also possible in portions of the Rockies and northern Plains.
• Dry areas: Much of New England, New York, the Plains and much of the West will all enjoy sunshine and dry weather. Breezy conditions are possible, once again, in the Plains.
• High temperatures: Highs mostly in the 70s and 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)
If you have plans to see firework displays Monday night, they could be impacted by rain and thunderstorms in portions of the East. A few showers or isolated thunderstorms may also develop in parts of the northern Plains and Northwest.