Early Memorial Day Weekend Forecast Calling for Wide Variety of Weather Conditions

The Memorial Day weekend is a week away. What kind of weather can you expect for the unofficial kickoff to summer? Read on for the early forecast.

Mixed Bag of Weather for Memorial Day Weekend

The forecast models are predicting that the southern U.S. will continue to see searing temperatures while the severe storms and smoke from the Canadian wildfires could hinder outdoor activities in areas to the north. The weekend forecast is being driven by a front that will divide the country and send cooler air to the northern and western U.S. and hot air to the south. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to pop up along the dividing line in the middle of the country.

The storms are not good timing for a weekend that is typically flush with an abundance of outdoor activities ranging from remembrances to parades to family barbecues. Potential impacts over the weekend include frequent lighting strikes, localized flooding, and immense heat. Wildfire smoke coming down from Canada may negatively impact air quality levels in the northern tier of the country.

In addition to impacting outdoor activities, the weather will also influence travel across the country. According to a report released by the American Automobile Association (AAA) last week, almost 44 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from their home over the holiday weekend. This translates to the second highest Memorial Day travel levels since 2000.