Labor Day Forecast Will be Cool and Rainy for Millions of Americans

It has been a cooler-than-normal Labor Day weekend for millions of Americans in the Midwest and the Northeast. Will this trend continue as the long weekend comes to an end? And what other weather features will distinguish the Labor Day holiday? Read on for all of the details of the forecast for the back half of the weekend.

Coastal Dangers Abound on Labor Day

The Labor Day weekend is seen as the unofficial end to the summer season. Unfortunately for beachgoers hoping to squeeze out a last bit of fun in the sun, rough surf conditions will persist up and down the East Coast. Strong rip currents could present dangers from Florida and up into Delaware on Monday, thanks to the steady northeast breezes.

While numbers have not been confirmed, approximately three dozen individuals have reportedly drowned at the hands of rough surf and rip currents in the U.S. this year. This serves as a good reminder to pay heed to posted beach warnings and swim in areas monitored by lifeguards.

What to Expect for Temperatures

Temperatures across the country will begin to inch up on Monday. The mercury hovered well under the historical average to start the weekend for much of the eastern half of the U.S. Highs will land about 4 to 8 degrees below normal for the nation as a whole.

Widespread highs in the 70s will be the story for major cities such as Boston, Minneapolis, Detroit, and Chicago. You can expect high readings in the low 80s for Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

It will also be unseasonably cooler for the southern tier of the U.S with highs in the 80s for Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and Atlanta. This compares to the usual readings in the 90s on Labor Day.

Meanwhile, heat will be building in the western third of the country. Widespread highs in the 90s are on tap for Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Boise. Temperatures in the triple digits are bearing down on Las Vegas and Phoenix. The heat wave will continue to build in the interior portions of the Northwest as the week progresses.