Severe Storms, Extreme Heat, and Wildfire Smoke: Pick Your Poison This Fourth of July

There will be very few places untouched by the wrath of Mother Nature as the nation celebrates its 250th birthday this weekend. Millions of Americans will be grappling with a variety of inclement conditions, ranging from extreme heat to severe weather to smoky skies. Here is an updated look at what you can expect for the weather heading into the long holiday weekend.

Thunderstorm Activity Will Be the Big Disruptor This Holiday Weekend

The Fourth of July is traditionally celebrated in the great outdoors with activities including fireworks displays, parades, and barbecues. The holiday is also a big travel occasion across the U.S. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), about 72.2 million people are predicted to travel at least 50 miles away from home over the long weekend.

The likelihood of severe thunderstorms is expected to bring about the greatest volume of disruptions to travel plans and outdoor activities in the days surrounding the holiday. As is the case with most summer season thunderstorms, the greatest concentration of activity will fire up during the late afternoon hours

Not only will thunderstorms disrupt those outdoor cookouts and community festivals, but the presence of these storms may also lead to lengthy travel delays. Air travelers should prepare for the chance of periodic ground stops through the weekend. Motorists should be ready for periods of heavy rain.

The greatest threat of widespread storms on Friday and Saturday will stretch from portions of Colorado and New Mexico to the east into Florida. To the north, this line of storms will creep up the Atlantic Seaboard. Although it will not be a total washout for this large swath of the country, the unpredictability of these storms will inevitably cause issues for those in the path.

Storms will also be a concern along the southern Atlantic and Gulf Coast, thanks to an area of budding tropical moisture. Although it is not likely that this cluster of rain showers and thunderstorms will organize into a formal tropical feature, the energy and moisture associated with the system will still bring rain, gusty winds, and rough seas to this part of the Southeast and Florida.

Forecasters are warning that the most significant danger in the days ahead will be the frequent lightning strikes. The risk will be elevated just as people head out to the beach, the pool, and the golf course.

Extreme Heat Will Begin to Ease as the Weekend Progresses.

The core of the heat will move into the south-central U.S. as the long weekend progresses. This means that the heat dome that has been sending the mercury soaring into the triple digits will begin to ease by the holiday in the northern tier of the country.

For example, New York City will top out with highs in the mid 80s over the long weekend, more indicative of what you would expect to find in the Big Apple in early July.

However, it will remain steamy in areas to the south. Washington, D.C. will see highs in the 90s on Independence Day. The chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours could spell trouble for revelers gathered on the National Mall for all of the festivities.

Sports fans may also experience weather-related challenges at the World Cup games over the weekend. Matches in Philadelphia on July 4 and just outside New York City on July 5 will be a hot and humid affair, necessitating that fans and players take extra precautions.

The western quarter of the U.S. will see the best weather of the weekend. This region will be mostly dry with comfortable temperatures. However, the dry conditions as of late have led to a rash of wildfires across the Intermountain West and the Great Basin, stretching from the Cascades and Sierras to the east into the western Rockies. This includes eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, much of Idaho, Nevada, Utah, northern Arizona, and the western edge of Colorado.

Areas under a high fire danger may be facing fireworks restrictions. Be sure to check with your local officials before lighting off fireworks if you live in the interior portions of the West. Ongoing drought concerns may also prompt fireworks restrictions across parts of the High Plains and the eastern U.S.

The smoke generated from these wildfires will travel a great distance to the south and to the east, riding along with the upper-level winds in the atmosphere. This means that those not experiencing wildfires may still notice the smoky or hazy conditions.

The coolest temperatures this weekend will be found in New England, upstate New York, and along the Pacific coastline. It will be a pleasant holiday in cities such as Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Highs will bounce around in the 70s to low 80s along the immediate coastline.

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