logo
Fourth of July forecast: See where weather could disrupt fireworks, travel

Fourth of July forecast: See where weather could disrupt fireworks, travel

USA Today02-07-2025
Rain and potential thunderstorms are in store for Americans in several states for the Fourth of July, while severe storms are expected to snarl one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, forecasters said.
A record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel between Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, July 6, according to AAA. The days leading up to the holiday are expected to bring showers, heavy rain and thunderstorms to a stretch from the southern Mid-Atlantic to the Southeast, which could cause localized flash flooding, the National Weather Service said on July 2. Other storm systems are expected in the northern High Plains and the Southwest.
The pre-holiday stormy weather will give way to a marginal risk of thunderstorms in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest on Independence Day, according to the Storm Prediction Center. The center of the country and southeast could see rain and some storms that day.
But there's good news: About two-thirds of the country will have clear weather perfect for viewing fireworks shows on the Fourth, AccuWeather forecasters said.
"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," AccuWeather Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
Traveling for the holiday? See where storms are coming
Thunderstorms are expected to form in parts of North Carolina on July 2, while heavy rainfall will impact areas over the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern Gulf Coast, the National Weather Service said. Torrential downpours and heavy winds are expected along a stretch from New Jersey to Florida, AccuWeather reported.
Meanwhile, the storms impacting the Midwest are expected to bring hail and strong wind gusts on July 2, according to the outlet.
On July 3, showers and thunderstorms will impact Florida through the morning of the Fourth, the weather service said. The storm system in the Midwest will shift its focus to the Northeast on July 3, bringing strong wind gusts that could even cause isolated power outages, AccuWeather warned.
Fourth of July forecast
The weather will be clear and dry in the Great Lakes region and Northeast and most of the West on the Fourth of July, AccuWeather reported. Heat and humidity with temperatures in the 90s are forecast across several states.
"It's been very humid the past several weeks, but we'll finally be in store for a more pleasant airmass, just in time for the Fourth of July," the National Weather Service in Buffalo, New York, said.
The most likely areas to experience hazardous weather on the holiday are along a corridor from northern Kansas up through the eastern Dakotas, Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the outlet said. Those storms could bring damaging hail, wind gusts, flash flooding, and possibly some isolated tornadoes.
Into the holiday weekend, the storms could produce flash flooding, the weather service in Duluth, Minnesota, said.
Forecasters watching disturbance off Southeast coast
Meanwhile, a tropical disturbance in the Atlantic has a medium chance of forming into a cyclone in the next week, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It could turn into a tropical or subtropical depression by the holiday weekend, and is bringing the chance of heavy rainfall across the Southeast, particularly along the west-central Florida coast, forecasters said. The system doesn't pose a direct threat to Florida in the coming days, but could bring heavy rain, gusty winds and rip currents, the Florida Department of Emergency Management said.
"Those heading to the beaches for the holiday weekend from northern Florida and the Alabama and Mississippi panhandles to the Carolinas are urged to monitor the forecast, as there may be rough surf and rip currents and perhaps gusty winds should a tropical depression or storm develop," said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert.
Contributing: USA TODAY Network-Florida
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Dangerous heat continues for over 80 million Americans

time12 minutes ago

Dangerous heat continues for over 80 million Americans

Dangerous heat continues across the U.S. as millions face feels-like temperature reaching into the 90s and 100s from the Southeast to the Midwest. St. Louis, Missouri, which has been under extreme heat all week, will continue to be under an extreme heat warning this weekend, with the feels-like temperature reaching up to 114 degrees. Places in South Carolina and North Carolina are also getting in on the extreme heat this weekend, with an extreme heat warning in effect for places like Myrtle Beach, Wilmington and Raleigh for feels-like temperatures reaching between 113 and 115 degrees over the weekend. Heat advisories for feels-like temperatures reaching well into the 90s and up to the 100s are in effect for multiple areas. From Florida to Virginia, including Tampa, Savannah and Richmond; from Texas to West Virginia, including Dallas, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Cincinnati and Charleston; and for parts of the Upper Midwest, including Pierre, Bismarck, and Duluth. The Northeast, while still warm, will be noticeably cooler and drier Saturday into Sunday because of a cold front that swept through, which had brought Friday's storms for parts of the region. Extreme, life-threatening heat wave The major heat and humidity will continue to build up across the Midwest and the Southeast this weekend, setting up a widespread, life-threatening heat wave to take place through much of next week. Extreme heat watches have been issued for Omaha, Sioux Falls, Des Moines, Minneapolis and Duluth -- as well as other parts of Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. Feel-like temperatures in these areas will likely reach well into the 90s and into the 100s for spots on Sunday. Meanwhile, consecutive days of feel-like temperatures well into the 100s and exceeding 110 degrees are forecast for millions of Americans from St. Louis to Tampa next week. An "Extreme Heat Risk," level 4 of 4, is in place from Sunday through Thursday for large portions of the Southeast. This highest level is described as "Rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with no overnight relief affecting anyone without cooling/hydration as well as health systems, industries and infrastructure." Fire concern in places dealing with wildfires Fire weather alerts are in place for portions of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming for gusty and dry conditions on Saturday. This dry and windy weather will aid any ongoing fires -- like the Deer Creek Fire that has burned more than 17,000 acres but is 77% contained as of Saturday morning -- as well as help quickly grow any new fires that occur.

'If You Can't Pay For The Trip, You Shouldn't Take It': Expert Warns Against Buy Now, Pay Later Travel Trend
'If You Can't Pay For The Trip, You Shouldn't Take It': Expert Warns Against Buy Now, Pay Later Travel Trend

Yahoo

time40 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

'If You Can't Pay For The Trip, You Shouldn't Take It': Expert Warns Against Buy Now, Pay Later Travel Trend

This summer, millions of Americans are planning trips — and a growing number are using buy now, pay later services to help cover the cost. These short-term installment loans, offered by companies like Klarna and Affirm, are being used to pay for flights, hotels, cruises, and even event tickets. According to a NerdWallet survey, 18% of summer travelers planned to use BNPL this year. Klarna reported a 50% year-over-year jump in travel bookings, and Affirm (AFRM:NASDAQ) said its travel-related volume rose 38% in late 2024, topping $1 billion. While BNPL may seem appealing — especially when it comes with no upfront costs or interest — experts caution that it's not always a smart choice. Don't Miss: Be part of the breakthrough that could replace plastic as we know it— $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. It's Not Just Luxury Travel Anymore BNPL was once associated with high-end purchases, but that's changing. Andrew Lokenauth, founder of told CNBC that many of his clients now use BNPL to pay for basic travel, such as visiting family or attending weddings. "It's not just luxury vacations anymore," he said. "I've worked with over 100 clients drowning in BNPL travel debt, and it's not pretty." BNPL loans typically have zero flexibility — miss a payment, and you might face late fees or damage to your credit score. Even Affirm, which doesn't charge late fees, began reporting pay-over-time products to credit bureaus this year. Trending: This AI-Powered Trading Platform Has 5,000+ Users, 27 Pending Patents, and a $43.97M Valuation — The Debt Can Outlast the Trip The biggest risk with BNPL travel financing is that the fun may end, but the debt lingers. NerdWallet found that 30% of travelers who used credit cards for summer travel in 2024 still haven't paid off their balances. The average credit card interest rate, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, is over 22%. BNPL doesn't charge interest in many cases, but it can still lead to overextension. A recent Consumer Finance Protection Bureau report found that 63% of BNPL borrowers had more than one loan at a time — also known as "loan stacking" — at some point in 2021 and 2022. Disney vacation planner Jackie Steele said he's seen more clients use BNPL to pay for Disney trips, sometimes to make last-minute travel happen or to upgrade their experience. "I always caution people — especially younger adults or families on tight budgets — to look beyond the monthly breakdown," he told Caution and Have a Backup Plan Some travelers say BNPL made their trips possible. One traveler told CNBC she used it to book a last-minute trip to Miami, calling it a "lifesaver." But when she missed one payment reminder, she was hit with extra fees. Some experts say that BNPL can work if used wisely. Fiserv Head of Embedded Finance Sunil Sachdev told CNBC that the service has matured in recent years and, so far, hasn't resulted in widespread defaults. Still, Lokenauth doesn't sugarcoat it: "If you can't pay for a vacation outright, you probably shouldn't take it." Smart Alternatives for Summer Travel Before reaching for BNPL, consider alternatives. According to NerdWallet, 91% of travelers are already looking for ways to save — such as using credit card points or choosing budget hotels. "Travel rewards aren't fine wine — they don't get better with age," NerdWallet spokesperson Sally French says. "In fact, with airlines and hotels constantly tweaking their loyalty programs to a level that's usually not in your favor, your points could be worth less next summer than they are right now." No matter your destination this summer, planning ahead — and paying responsibly — can help you avoid turning your dream vacation into a long-term debt burden. Read Next: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article 'If You Can't Pay For The Trip, You Shouldn't Take It': Expert Warns Against Buy Now, Pay Later Travel Trend originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

The 10 worst U.S. states to retire—6 are in the South
The 10 worst U.S. states to retire—6 are in the South

CNBC

time3 hours ago

  • CNBC

The 10 worst U.S. states to retire—6 are in the South

There are a number of factors to take into consideration when choosing where you want to retire, including the lifestyle you want and your financial situation. In addition to looking for options that meet most of your needs, you'll want to consider any major downsides or trade-offs you'd have to make, such as a lack of accessible health care or a high cost of living. Financial services website Bankrate recently ranked all 50 states based on 15 metrics, including affordability, health care and weather, to determine the best and worst places to retire in the U.S. The study used data from a variety of sources, including the Council for Community and Economic Research, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The metrics were weighed according to survey responses gathered by Bankrate in May 2025 on what Americans say are their top priorities for choosing a retirement destination. As a result, affordability, weather and neighborhood safety influenced overall scores the most. Here are the 10 worst states to retire, according to Bankrate, where you may have to compromise when it comes to cost, safety and access to health care: Weather also played a significant role in landing several of these states at the bottom of the overall rankings. Louisiana ranked No. 39 for weather and Texas came in at No. 47 in that category. "Natural disasters really degraded the scores of almost every state across the Gulf. Texas, Florida — even states that you really think about as primary retirement destinations," Stephen Kates, a certified financial planner and Bankrate financial analyst, tells CNBC Make It. "They didn't do as well in the weather category because of their propensity to have hurricanes and other natural disasters." It can be helpful to consider these rankings and the metrics used to determine them, but ultimately, the best place for you to retire will depend on your personal preferences. Retiring in Louisiana or Oklahoma may look challenging based on these metrics, for example, but if that's where your family lives and you want to be close to them, it may be worth planning ahead and figuring out how to live well there, despite potential drawbacks. If living in a tax-friendly state is important to you, Wyoming may be your best fit, Kates says. The state came in at No. 3 overall and No. 1 for tax-friendliness. But you'd be giving up other potential amenities. "You pay very little state taxes, but you have little access to some of the other things that you may want," he says. "Wyoming is not great for arts and entertainment — it's a big, more rural place." Conditions can also vary greatly within a given state when it comes to metrics like neighborhood safety. State-level data can be a good place to start, but you may need to dig deeper or visit in person to determine if an area is right for you, especially if you're considering a big state like California or Texas, Kates says. "Where you live in California or Texas or Florida, or any state, is going to matter because we're aggregating a lot of data," he says. "If you live in Los Angeles, it's going to be very different than if you live in Sacramento or La Jolla; if you live in Dallas, very different [than] Houston." You may choose not to relocate in retirement, or prefer to wait until later on to make a move. As people live longer than they used to and thus may be retired longer, it's wise to think about your retirement in phases, Kates says. "It's a lot more than just putting a pin on the map and saying, 'This is the place,'" he says. "If you're going to live in retirement for 25 or 30 years, there's going to be phases of that. And how you figure that out is extremely relevant." If you want to dedicate time to traveling in your early retirement years, it may not make sense to also try to move your home base during that period. But a decade or so later, you may be more interested in settling down somewhere new. Kates calls these the "go, low-go and no-go" phases of retirement, alluding to idea that as you get older, you'll likely want or need to slow down.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store