What You Can Expect for the Juneteenth Forecast

As Juneteenth becomes a more widely recognized holiday, more and more Americans are enjoying the time off from work to commemorate the day. Here is a look at Juneteenth and what you should expect for the weather on this day.

What is Juneteenth?

Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated every year on June 19th, commemorating the end of slavery in America. The day specifically marks the day of June 19, 1865. This is when the Emancipation Proclamation freed the last enslaved people working in Galveston, Texas.

Juneteenth has historically been a time to reflect and celebrate African American history and its cultural traditions. The holiday is an ideal opportunity to educate others about the importance of African Americans throughout history. Popular ways to celebrate the holiday include street festivals, parades, educational events, and more.

Juneteenth became an official federal holiday in 2021 when the date was recognized by President Joe Biden with the signing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. Since that time, many Americans now get the day off from work or school in order to properly reflect on the significance of the date.

Weather Forecast for Juneteenth

Many Americans head outside for Juneteenth celebrations, making the weather an important element to consider when planning how you will commemorate the holiday. Depending on where you live, you may be dodging thunderstorms and dealing with steamy conditions.

A cold front moving toward the East Coast will lay the groundwork for the potential of thunderstorms in the Northeast, the mid-Atlantic, and the Appalachians. The highest chance of rain and thunderstorms will be in the afternoon and evening hours, thanks to the natural heating of the day working to fuel the possibility of severe weather.

Severe storms will be the greatest concern across the interior portions of New England, eastern New York state, and along the Interstate 95 corridor from the Northeast and into North Carolina. For instance, New York City is forecast to wake up to areas of patch fog in the morning with the chance of an isolated thunderstorm popping up in the afternoon. Highs will push up to the 90-degree barrier, pairing with winds out of the southwest at 10 to 15 mph.

Washington, D.C. will also be under the gun for severe storms. Although the day will start calm and clear in the nation's capital, increasing clouds will support the development of storms in the afternoon hours. You can also expect a high of about 92 degrees, lows that slip into the upper 60s, and winds clocking in at 10 to 20 mph from the southwest.

The line of storms could creep as far south as Raleigh, North Carolina. While the risk is low, the metro could still experience an errant storm or rain shower in the afternoon as temperatures inch up into the mid 90s for a high. The threat of storms will increase in the evening hours in this part of the mid-Atlantic.

The southern U.S could also see storms come to life in the afternoon. Unlike the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic, storms in the South will be more sporadic.

Lastly, parts of the northern Great Lakes may also get caught in the crosshairs of rain showers or storms. Anyone living in these areas should have a plan to seek shelter from lightning or hail in the event of thunderstorm development.

Temperatures Will Soar

The heat will be another element to contend with if your plans for Juneteenth call for time outside. It will be unseasonably warm for the Desert Southwest, the Rocky Mountains, and much of the Plains states. Temperatures are forecast to hover about 10 degrees over the historical average for the middle of June.

For example, Phoenix is forecast to hit a high of 116 degrees with plentiful amounts of sunshine. Temperatures will remain elevated after the sun goes down, landing in the low 80s. You will find a similar situation in Las Vegas with a forecast high of 110 degrees and winds out of the south at 15 to 25 mph.

Salt Lake City is bracing for a high of 103 degrees under mostly sunny skies. These readings will approach record-high levels. The other big weather story of the day in the largest metro area in Utah will be the winds whipping around from the south at speeds of 15 to 25 mph.

It will also be particularly toasty in Denver with a forecast high of 97 degrees. Some afternoon clouds could bring the heat down just a tad in the Mile High City. It will be a breezy day with winds out of the south-southeast at 10 to 15 mph while overnight lows will bottom out in the upper 60s.

It will also be a scorcher of a day for a large swath of the Northeast. In addition to dealing with the chance of storms, places such as Philadelphia will see readings peak at about 93 degrees despite the chance of rain. Winds out of the southwest at 10 to 20 mph will only make it feel slightly cooler.

The South will be grappling with its usual heat and humidity, creating miserable conditions for outdoor activities. Atlanta is forecast to see temperatures hover in the mid 80s, however, high humidity levels will make it feel steamier. The Peach City will also be under the threat of storms in the afternoon. This risk will increase in the evening hours in this part of the region.

The cool corner of the country will be in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle will top out with a high of 68 degrees under cloudy skies. It will be slightly warmer to the south in Portland with a forecast high of 72 degrees under a mix of sun and clouds.

Some areas of the northern Great Lakes will also trend on the chilly side. For example, Buffalo is expecting a dreary day with occasional rain showers. The forecast is calling for a maximum temperature of about 72 degrees and lows that slip to the 60-degree mark. Winds out of the west-southwest at 15 to 25 mph will amplify the chill.

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