Latest Memorial Day Weekend Forecast: Wet in the East and Dry Out West

The Memorial Day weekend is shaping up to be two widely contrasting experiences depending on which side of the country you live. While the eastern U.S. will be dealing with rain showers and unseasonably cooler temperatures, the weather will be largely dry and warm for the western half of the nation. Read on for the details of the holiday weekend forecast.

Cool and Stormy Holiday Weekend in the East

It is not unusual to see chaotic weather over Memorial Day weekend. That will be particularly true for the East Coast and the Southeast, regions where frequent rain showers and thunderstorms will put outdoor plans in flux.

The weather is taking a dramatic turn in the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic. Fresh off the heels of record-setting heat to start the week, a cold front dipping down from Canada is sending the temperatures tumbling just in time for the weekend that marks the unofficial start of the summer season.

Temperatures will feel more like the middle of April than late May, landing at about 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the historical average. Widespread highs in the 60s and 50s will be the story for the coastal areas of the Northeast. Some of the interior portions of the region could see highs struggle to climb out of the upper 40s. This is the same part of the country that was sizzling under readings in the 80s and 90s earlier in the week.

In addition to the chillier weather, multiple storms are going to push in from the Plains throughout the weekend, bringing frequent waves of moisture all the way to the Atlantic Seaboard. The rain is already disrupting plans on Friday as a record number of travelers head out for the long weekend.