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USA Today
23-05-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Memorial Day weekend weather forecast: Will rain ruin your plans?
Memorial Day weekend weather forecast: Will rain ruin your plans? A large chunk of the middle part of the country will see wet, potentially stormy weather as a system moves through the Plains. Show Caption Hide Caption AccuWeather's 2025 summer forecast Meteorological summer is just weeks away. Lincoln Riddle spoke with our long-range experts to find out what's in store for the United States this summer. Will you be one of the record 45.1 million people that AAA says will be traveling this Memorial Day weekend? Read below to see how the weather will affect your plans. Temperature-wise, while most of the central and eastern U.S. will see below-average temperatures throughout the weekend, the western U.S. and Florida will see above-average warmth, reports. As for rain, a large chunk of the middle part of the country will see wet, potentially stormy weather this weekend as a system moves through the Plains. Nasty weather in the Northeast Folks starting a vacation early will encounter wet and nasty conditions in the Northeast on Friday, May 23. "Have the umbrellas, waterproof shoes and warm jackets handy," said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. While that storm will diminish by Saturday, "the second half of the Memorial Day weekend looks to be mainly dry but quite cool," AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "Watch those flowers and veggies, as there could be a frost in parts of Pennsylvania and Upstate New York by Sunday morning, if clouds break and the breeze diminishes." More: 'Severe weather threat' forecast for parts of US could ruin your Memorial Day weekend Dry in the Southeast, except for Florida Farther south, AccuWeather said that most of the time from Friday, May 23 to Monday, May 26 will be free of rain. One exception to the dry weather in the Southeast will be over Florida. "Brief but drenching sea breeze thunderstorms are possible over the Florida Peninsula and will generally drift from east to west on a daily basis," Pastelok said. Stormy in Central US The likelihood of rain and thunderstorms will increase this weekend toward the central Gulf, the Tennessee Valley and the Plains states, AccuWeather said. More numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected for the second half of the weekend when the greatest risk of severe weather is likely in the Central United States. Cities like Kansas City, St. Louis, Little Rock and Nashville will see rain Saturday, May 24 into Sunday, May 25, predicts. Warm in the West The Southwest will be the hot spot for the holiday weekend, according to AccuWeather. "Temperatures should surpass 100 degrees in the deserts each day, while highs well into the 90s are in store for the central and southern part of the interior valley of California," Pastelok added. The Northwest, however, will not be completely dry through the holiday weekend with a couple of showers and thunderstorms extending into the northern Rockies, AccuWeather said.
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
What's the best temperature to set your thermostat this summer? What experts say
What's the best temperature to set your thermostat this summer? What experts say To save energy and money, use window coverings to prevent heat gain inside, turn off ceiling fans when leaving a room and use a bathroom fan when bathing to remove heat and humidity. Show Caption Hide Caption AccuWeather's 2025 summer forecast Meteorological summer is just weeks away. Lincoln Riddle spoke with our long-range experts to find out what's in store for the United States this summer. As temperatures begin to rise, it's nearly time (if not already) to turn on that air conditioning. But what's the best temperature to set the thermostat to during summer months? And what are some key ways to keep electricity bills down? The U.S. Department of Energy recommends keeping indoor temperatures comfortable, at a level that provides humidity control, all while aiming to keep the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures low to save the most money. With summer right around the corner, here are some tips for how to efficiently cool your living space. What should you set your thermostat to in the summer? The ideal temperature to keep your thermostat at during the summer is 78 degrees Fahrenheit, various energy companies, including Missouri's Ameren, Maryland's Constellation Energy and Florida's Carrier Global, state. Keep the house warmer when you're away The Department of Energy recommends keeping a home warmer than normal when away to avoid unnecessary air conditioning use. On average, a difference of 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit for about eight hours a day can save as much as 10% a year on cooling and heating bills, the Department of Energy states. Schedule a regular maintenance checkup before summer hits The Department of Energy advises that homeowners schedule regular maintenance to ensure their cooling systems and appliances are working efficiently. For some do-it-yourself maintenance, vacuum air intake vents regularly to remove dust buildup. Make sure furniture isn't blocking airflow registers, and avoid placing electronics near air conditioning thermostats, as the thermostat senses heat from these appliances and may cause air conditioning to run longer than necessary, the Department of Energy states. Check, seal leaks to avoid escaping cool air Checking and sealing air leaks should also be a part of regular maintenance. The Department of Energy recommends checking for indoor air leaks around baseboards, windows, doors, light fixtures, appliances, switches and electrical outlets. If sealing do-it-yourself style, plug holes with the appropriate caulking and/or weather stripping. How to save on air conditioning bills Here are some more tips for how to save money on your air conditioning bill this summer: Install window coverings to prevent heat gain through windows during the day. Turn off ceiling fans when you leave a room. Fans cool people, not rooms, the Department of Energy states. When taking a shower or bath, use a bathroom fans to remove heat and humidity. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
An omega block is ruling our weather. When will it finally budge?
An omega block is ruling our weather. When will it finally budge? Show Caption Hide Caption AccuWeather's 2025 summer forecast Meteorological summer is just weeks away. Lincoln Riddle spoke with our long-range experts to find out what's in store for the United States this summer. This pattern disrupts typical west-to-east jet stream flow, causing stagnant weather conditions, including cool, showery weather in the East and West, and mild, clear conditions in the north-central U.S. A shift to a "zonal" flow of air, where weather systems move west-to-east across the country, is needed to break the pattern, but there's no indication of this happening soon. Your current weather may be around awhile. The large-scale weather pattern that's now influencing much of the USA's weather – known as an omega block because of its resemblance to the Greek letter omega – isn't budging right now. Forecasters say the overall pattern could last at least until next weekend, and perhaps beyond. "We could be stuck for a while," Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Brian Hurley told USA TODAY on May 5. What is an omega block? According to meteorologist Jonathan Erdman, "if you trace the path of the jet stream across the U.S. from the West to the East, you will trace out the Greek letter omega (Ω)." "This configuration blocks the typical west-to-east flow of the jet stream, much like a large rock in a small stream forces the flow of water around it," he said. "That's why meteorologists call it a blocking pattern." Hurley told USA TODAY that you see this pattern sometimes in April and May, when upper-level low pressure areas are "cut off" from the main flow of air. This setup tends to prevent the normal west-to-east movement of weather systems and tends to lock in chilly, unsettled conditions in some areas, while other locations have an extended period of dry and warm conditions, AccuWeather said. What's going on weatherwise? The pattern is bringing cool, showery, cloudy weather to the East and West, and mostly clear, mild conditions to the north-central U.S. According to the Weather Prediction Center, a "blocky pattern remains in place over the Lower 48 to start the week with a slow moving upper-low over the Ohio Valley, another slow moving upper-low over the Southwest and an upper-level ridge over portions of the northern Plains/Upper Midwest in between." A ridge is an area of high pressure that typically brings fair conditions. The omega block pattern will continue to lead to areas of both well below normal and well above normal temperatures this week, the Weather Prediction Center said. Weather fluctuations: An 'omega block' in atmosphere to bring chaotic weather for millions in US How long will the omega block pattern last? Hurley said a temporary breakdown of the pattern could come by mid- to late week before it re-establishes itself by next weekend. "By late week into early next week, (Monday May 12) we could be looking at a closed upper low in the Mississippi Valley and another one in the West Coast," he told USA TODAY. This would bring similar weather to what we're seeing now. As for what it will take to finally break the pattern for good, he said we need a switch to what's known as a "zonal" flow of air, where systems zip west-to-east across the country. However, "we're not really seeing that now," Hurley said.
