From triple-digit heat to “heavy hail” and severe thunderstorms, Americans across the country are facing some potentially dangerous weather as they head into the holiday weekend before July 4. weather forecasters said.
A sweltering heatwave that caused more than a dozen deaths in Texas alone has finally subsided, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said friday that “dangerous heat and humidity are expected to still affect locations across the Southeast through Independence Day.”
Additionally, Americans in some areas where Canadian wildfire smoke blankets the skies with fog will continue to see moderate to unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups. feel at the weekend. Still, it’s a significant improvement over the past few days.
Here’s what to expect from the weather this weekend:
Thunderstorms, hail, flash floods
NOAA said a “slow-moving storm system” this weekend and into early next week could bring heavy rain, severe thunderstorms and other hazardous weather this weekend.
The mid-Mississippi valley through central Appalachian could see clusters of thunderstorms, gusts, heavy hail and flash flooding Saturday and Sunday. The storm system is expected to bring similar risks to the Mid-Atlantic from late Sunday through early Tuesday, potentially dampening July 4 festivities.
The Northern Plains, Southeast, Northeast and along the Rocky Mountains are also expected to see showers and thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday.
United States weather tracker and warning map
Heat in Southeast, California
Dangerous heat and humidity are expected to affect parts of the Southeast this weekend even if temperatures across most of the South will drop below dangerous levels. Forecasters also expect “excessive temperatures” from the desert Southwest – desert areas in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas – to inland California.
“The heat-related hazard remains elevated due to the length of this heat wave,” said the Hurricane Forecast Center.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles said dry and hot conditions in Southern California across deserts, low mountains and inner valleys are triggering temperature advisories and extreme heat warnings through Monday. Residents are advised to take extra care to avoid leaving children, pets and the elderly in hot cars. Fireworks are also an additional ignition hazard.
The Hurricane Prediction Center said temperatures in California’s valleys will reach nearly 110 degrees in the hottest spots on Saturday. The Southwest Desert will see temperatures in 110 years.
The risk of heat-related illnesses increases over the weekend, the center said.
The forecast for Tucson, Arizona, on Monday is expected to equal a record set in 1989, the National Weather Service said. On average, the hottest times of the year are in late June and early July, with an average high of 102 degrees. But on Monday, the temperature is expected to reach 111 degrees, the temperature weather service said.
NOAA said the upper Midwest will also see above-average temperatures over the weekend and into the holiday season.
Extreme heat warnings are in place for some parts of Tennessee through Saturday and National Weather Service in Memphis said Friday that two locations in the Midwest had the highest temperatures Friday afternoon: Tunica, Mississippi, and Union City, Tennessee, with a heat index of 119 degrees.
Does hazy air affect fireworks viewing?
Weather forecasters say poor air quality from the Canadian wildfires could even affect the visibility of fireworks shows in parts of the United States. NOAA said some improvement is expected Sunday and Monday in the Midwest and along the East Coast, but the smoke could worsen again in the Northeast on July 4 as winds blow from the north.
In Montréal, a Canadian Independence Day fireworks display was canceled on Thursday due to poor air quality caused by wildfires. Firework displays around July 4 are known to temporarily affect air quality due to the toxic particles they emit.
