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Memorial Day Weekend Looks To Be Hot and Stormy
UPDATED May 24, 2012
UPDATED By WeatherBug Sr. Meteorologist, James West | Whether it`s hitting the beach, having a cook-out, lounging at the pool or going to a parade, millions of Americans will be celebrating Memorial Day weekend outside - - if only the weather will cooperate.
The unofficial start of summer will definitely have a summer feel to it across a large chunk of the southern and eastern U.S. as the weekend unfolds. High temperatures are expected to warm to the mid-to-upper 90s from the Southern Plains to the Midwest. Highs in Dallas and St. Louis are expected to range from 93 to 98 degrees Saturday through Monday, with Chicago getting into the low-to-mid 90s by Sunday afternoon. The 90s will reach into the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachians on Monday. Many locations will see temperatures flirting with records highs - a fitting way to kick off the start of "summer."
The Northern Tier will see scattered showers and thunderstorms which will help to cool the air down a little across the Central and Northern Plains. Showers and thunderstorms will also potentially dampen plans for parts of the weekend in the Pacific Northwest, around the Great Lakes, and eventually in the Northeast for Memorial Day itself.
For residents in the Southwest, an extreme fire danger will continue into the weekend for places like Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., Albuquerque, N.M., and El Paso, Texas. Dangerously dry weather, temperatures in the 80s and 90s, and occasionally windy conditions will keep the fire risk high right through Monday.
Planning on some holiday travel? The main problem will be wet roads across the northern half of the U.S. There will also be a chance for some strong-to-severe thunderstorms on Sunday across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, which could cause travel delays at airports in the Twin Cities and Sioux City, Iowa.
A more detailed outlook for the long holiday weekend will be updated Thursday afternoon, so you can focus on your grilling skills and leave the forecast worries to us. Have a safe and fun Memorial Day!
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