Your forecast for Labor Day weekend
Wondering how the weather might affect your Labor Day weekend plans? AccuWeather’s Damien Lodes has the answer.
Thunderstorms and a heat wave could disrupt Labor Day weekend plans across the country as record numbers of people are expected to travel for the unofficial end of summer.
From Friday through Monday, much of the country will face torrential rain and possible flooding, especially in the Midwest, the Prairie states, the Mid-Atlantic and the Gulf Coast. Meanwhile, parts of the Northwest are expected to endure a scorching heat wave that will push temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above average for this time of year.
Outside the Americas, the remnants of former Tropical Storm Gilma are expected to bring heavy rains and winds to the Hawaiian Islands over the weekend. Tropical disturbances in the Atlantic could spread across the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Labor Day and early next week, bringing showers and thunderstorms.
Bad weather isn’t the only threat to a fun holiday weekend. Bacteria, algae and other hazards have led to the closure of beaches across the country, including more than 60 in Massachusetts alone.
According to the Transportation Security Administration, over 17 million people are expected to pass through airport security checkpoints from Thursday, August 29, to Wednesday, September 4, making this potentially the busiest Labor Day period ever.
Here’s what you need to know about the holiday weekend weather forecast:
Storm Tracker: National Hurricane Center observes two disturbances in the Atlantic
Storms begin the holiday weekend in the central and eastern USA
According to AccuWeather, thunderstorms could occur across much of the central and eastern United States on Friday, from New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana to Michigan, western New York state, central Pennsylvania and the Florida peninsula.
The broad zone spans 20 states, and while rain won’t fall consistently, there’s still a risk of “potentially severe weather conditions,” according to AccuWeather. Storms expected to drench the lower Great Lakes, Mississippi Valley and southern Plains, for example, could produce “thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall with the possibility of isolated flash flooding,” according to the weather service.
Another low pressure system could trigger stronger winds over the Great Lakes region, triggering a 2/5 risk level for damaging winds from the Storm Prediction Center for eastern Michigan.
Intermittent rain could cause flooding in parts of the northeast
The danger of severe storms will extend further into the Ohio Valley and the Northeast on Saturday and Sunday. “Areas of severe weather” are expected in the Appalachians and the Mid-Atlantic region, the weather service said.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, the largest cities at risk of severe weather include Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Pittsburgh and Arlington.
“Destroying winds will again be the greatest danger,” the weather service said. “In addition, isolated flash floods are possible, although the danger could become even greater given the slower progression of the front.”
A cold front moving across the Midwest and the Plains is expected to bring relief from the intense heat that has parched parts of the Mid-Atlantic region this week. Washington DC also hit 101 degrees on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Capital Weather Gang, surpassing the previous record of 99 degrees set in 1948.
Storms are expected for the Gulf Coast states
While some parts of the Southeast will see little rain through the weekend, torrential rain is expected along the Gulf Coast and other parts of the region.
More heavy rain is expected over the weekend, drenching parts of western Louisiana’s Gulf Coast and the upper Texas Gulf Coast as a low-pressure system moves nearby. Higher rainfall amounts and repeated waves of storms increase the “potential for isolated flash flooding,” the weather service said. Daily thunderstorms are also expected over central and southern Florida’s peninsula.
According to AccuWeather, heavy rains are expected on Labor Day from Texas to the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, where local flash flooding is possible.
Dozens of beaches in Massachusetts closed due to bacterial contamination
More than 60 beaches in Massachusetts are closed due to bacteria or other hazards such as potentially harmful chemicals or surf rip currents.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) said in a statement that swimming in the water at these closed beaches poses a risk of illness due to the high concentration of bacteria. Symptoms can range from nausea and vomiting to sore throat and fever.
The number of closed beaches is down significantly this year compared to last year, when more than 90 beaches along the state’s Atlantic coast were closed.
In other regions, officials warned beachgoers to avoid certain areas because of bacteria.
In Michigan, authorities asked residents to avoid five beaches because of “high levels of bacteria of unknown origin.” In Wisconsin, four beaches in the city of Lake Geneva remained closed due to blue-green algae. This algal bloom can produce toxins that can make people and animals sick or, in some cases, even kill them.
In Florida, the Duval County Health Department has issued a warning about toxic blue-green algae in the St. Johns River, the state’s longest river. The cause of the algal bloom is said to be an excess of nutrients in the river, especially nitrogen.
Heat scorches the Northwest during the holiday weekend
A late summer heat wave has triggered alerts across the Pacific Northwest, with meteorologists expecting temperatures to rise well above seasonal averages by the weekend.
According to AccuWeather, afternoon highs on Friday will be around 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) across the northern Great Basin and Pacific Northwest. The heat will get even worse on Saturday as it spreads into the northern Rocky Mountains, pushing temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius).
The weather service in Spokane, Washington, has announced a heat warning for Saturday morning that will end Monday night. Across central and northeastern Oregon, as well as southeastern Washington, meteorologists are expecting “hot weather conditions with temperatures reaching 35 to 38 degrees,” according to the weather service in Pendleton, Oregon.
“Due to the increased risk of heat-related illness, warnings have been issued for much of the northern Great Basin. This holiday weekend, be especially careful to seek out shady areas and stay hydrated,” the weather service warned.
Contributor: Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY; Catherine Messier, The Patriot Ledger; Cheryl McCloud, USA Today Network-Florida; Claire Reid, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
