Severe Weather Could Shut Down Holiday Travel
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Millions of Americans will be traveling this week for the Fourth of July, as a cold front makes its way across the United States and brings the potential for storms throughout the week along the East Coast.
Why It Matters
About 72 million people will be traveling this week for the July 4 holiday this week, according to AAA. The holiday lands on a Friday, meaning many Americans will be spending a three-day weekend away from home to celebrate the holiday. Weather forecasts indicate that swaths of the East Coast may be experiencing storms this week amid those travels, but much of the country may see clear conditions by Friday in time for fireworks and cookouts.
What To Know
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the cold front will bring rain up and down the East Coast Tuesday. In the evening, areas around Maine and New Hampshire are forecasted for severe storms, while rain is expected across the coast throughout the day.
Areas of West Texas and New Mexico, as well as parts of the Pacific Northwest, may also experience showers Tuesday afternoon.
East Coast showers are likely to continue into Wednesday, though areas in the northeast could clear up later that day. By the afternoon, areas across the southeastern region will still be receiving rain. Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas may get heavier showers, according to the NWS.
Similar conditions will persist on Thursday in the southeast, but clearer conditions are expected for cities like New York, Boston, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia for the holiday, according to the NWS.
An airplane sits on the tarmac on a rainy day at Denver International Airport on June 20, 2019.
An airplane sits on the tarmac on a rainy day at Denver International Airport on June 20, 2019.Florida will continue getting showers on July 4. Parts of the Midwest and the Great Plains such as Minnesota are forecasted to also get showers on Friday, according to the NWS. Similar conditions will persist into the weekend for areas including Michigan and Wisconsin, which forecasters say could receive heavier rain on Saturday.
On the holiday, areas of New England may see temperatures ranging in the 60s and 70s; Boston currently has a high of around 80 on Friday. Further southeast, temperatures could reach the lower 90s in places like Atlanta and Tallahassee.
The Midwest will similarly see temperatures from the 80s to the low 90s. Out west, temperatures could be more mild. Los Angeles, for instance, has a high of around 80.
There could be up to 5.84 million air travelers this week, according to AAA. Over the past weekend, hundreds of flights were canceled amid severe weather in Atlanta. Delta said on Sunday operations had stabilized, but that there could be continued cancellations.
What People Are Saying
AAA Travel Vice President Stacey Barber, in a statement: "Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away. Following Memorial Day's record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week. With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends."
AccuWeather's Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok, in a report: "Portions of the Midwest, Southeast and interior Southwest stand the most likely chance for some disruptive downpours and potent thunderstorm activity on Friday, July 4."
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