Labor Day Weekend Forecast Has Something for Everyone

The Labor Day weekend forecast will feature a tug of war between the various forces of Mother Nature. While some areas will experience extreme heat to bring the summer to a close, other parts of the country will be under the gun for heavy rain or temperatures that feel more like fall. What does the forecast have in store for your neck of the woods?

Sizzler of a Weekend for the Western U.S.

A wide variety of weather conditions will mark the unofficial end to the summer season in the U.S. Triple-digit temperatures will translate to a sizzling forecast for the Desert Southwest, while residents in the opposite corner of the country may be reaching for jackets. The greatest chance of severe weather will be in the Rockies and down into the Plains states. Meanwhile, Florida could be facing an influx of tropical moisture.

The West Coast will be the toastiest part of the country over the holiday weekend with unseasonably warm temperatures on tap for Washington, Oregon, and much of California. It will be progressively cooler moving to the east and into the interior portions of the West.

Most of the West Coast will remain dry throughout the three-day weekend. The exception to this forecast will be in parts of Washington where rain showers could mar outdoor plans on Saturday.

Sporadic waves of rain and thunderstorms are predicted for the Rockies and the Plains regions. The greatest chance of rain will be in parts of Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico. Areas that pick up rain earlier in the week will be at the highest risk of flooding.

The thunderstorm action will be the most prevalent during the afternoon and evening hours across the Rockies. The good news is that the weekend is not anticipated to be a total washout for any particular area. Instead, residents in the potential impact zone will just want to keep an eye on the hourly forecast when making outdoor plans.

Cooler Weather for the Great Lakes and the Northeast

The cooler weather pattern will linger for most of the Northeast and the Great Lakes region. Although the temperatures will not end up as cool as what this part of the country experienced earlier in the week, you can expect the readings to fall below the historical average for the end of August.

This will translate to high readings that max out in the 70s. The Ohio Valley will see the warmest readings of the eastern U.S with highs expected to approach the low 80s. Overnight lows will be chilly enough to necessitate that people bring along a jacket for outdoor activities in the evening hours. Forecasts are warning that temperatures could tumble as low as the 40s in the interior portions of the Northeast and the Great Lakes.

The end of the weekend will be mostly dry for the Northeast and New England. However, the moisture that is forecast for Friday in New England and New York could persist into Saturday. The rain may be a nuisance for those first college football games of the year, but meteorologists are reminding residents that the moisture is welcome for areas dealing with increasing drought conditions.

The actual Labor Day holiday on Monday will likely usher in the best weather of the weekend for the Northeast. Sunny skies and moderate temperatures will pave the way for a great day for outdoor fun.

The downside of the dry weather will be an elevated risk of wildfires for some areas of the Ohio Valley and into Michigan. The lack of rainfall over the past few weeks will pair with low humidity levels to raise the chance of fire danger.

Tropical Moisture Headed to Florida and the Southeast

While the Ohio Valley grapples with the threat of wildfires, it will be the opposite weather problem for the Southeast coastline and to the south into Florida. A surge of tropical weather could put a damper on the beach plans for vacationers in this region.

Hurricane watchers are keeping close tabs on a potential area of rain showers and thunderstorms forecast to creep from the northern Gulf and over Florida before ejecting out into the Atlantic. There is an outside chance that this disturbance could evolve into a tropical rainstorm or depression over the weekend.

Even if this feature does not take on tropical characteristics, the Southeast and Florida will be bracing for a soggy holiday weekend. This will lead to an increased threat of rip currents and localized flash flooding.

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