With the Fourth of July quickly approaching, a record-breaking 72.2 million Americans are gearing up for holiday travel, as reported by AAA. However, long-term predictions suggest that a cold front may bring widespread storms to the northern Plains and Southeastern US on Independence Day. There is even a slight chance of a tropical system forming near the Southeast coast over the holiday weekend, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
The high number of anticipated travelers can be attributed to the holiday falling on a Friday this year, providing many with a built-in three-day weekend, noted Melanie Fish, a travel expert with Vrbo, in an interview with FOX Weather.
Prior to the nation’s 249th birthday, thunderstorms are forecasted to develop along the Northeastern portion of the Interstate 95 corridor on Tuesday, potentially affecting flights at major air travel hubs. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest in the country, may experience storms as well due to afternoon thunderstorms popping up in the Southeast and southern Plains ahead of the approaching cold front.
Dry conditions are expected to return to the Northeast, Midwest, and northern Plains by Wednesday. On the Fourth of July itself, the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and most areas west of the Rocky Mountains should remain dry. However, regions like the front-range of the Rockies, the Midwest, and the Southeast could see dampened fireworks displays and barbecues.
Although most of the country will not face extreme heat during the holiday weekend, FOX Forecast Center forecasts show a stationary cold front lingering over the southeastern US from Louisiana to North Carolina starting on the Fourth of July and persisting through the weekend.
While the Atlantic hurricane season has had a slow start, warm waters conducive to tropical development remain in the Gulf and off the southeastern US coast. The presence of a low-pressure area in this region raises the possibility of a tropical system forming, which could enhance rainfall totals through the Independence Day weekend for the Southeast.
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