Severe storms are sweeping across the Great Plains, while the Mountain West is facing high fire dangers. In addition, southern Texas, the Gulf Coast, and southern Florida are experiencing a wave of heat. These weather conditions are marking the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend.
According to the AAA auto club, approximately 43.8 million travelers are anticipated to embark on journeys of at least 50 miles to reach their holiday destinations this weekend. This number is nearly equivalent to the record high of 44 million travelers in 2005.
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According to the auto club, approximately 33.4 million individuals will be traveling by car, while 3.51 million will be opting for air travel. Additionally, 1.9 million people will be using other means of transportation. It is worth noting that this year’s total number of travelers is approximately 4% higher than the 42 million individuals who traveled over the Memorial Day weekend in 2023.
Severe weather in the central and southern Plains may disrupt travel and holiday plans, warns the National Weather Service. A storm system is gaining strength in the central Plains.
According to the NWS Storm Prediction Center, severe thunderstorms, including large hail, destructive winds, and “intense tornadoes,” could be triggered by a warm front moving into the central Plains and the middle Mississippi Valley.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a moderate level-4 warning for severe thunderstorms in certain areas of Kansas, Oklahoma, and southwestern Missouri. This comes as numerous supercells are developing in the Rockies and moving towards the Ozarks.
The storms may bring about substantial rainfall and localized flash flooding in low-lying areas. They are expected to move towards the east, reaching the Midwest and Ohio Valley on Sunday, and eventually reaching the eastern United States on Monday.
The southern High Plains and southern Rockies are currently facing dry conditions that are posing a threat of wildfires.
Low humidity, dry vegetation, and strong wind gusts have the potential to quickly spread any fires that are ignited by lightning or human activity in New Mexico, southeast Arizona, western Texas, and the western Oklahoma Panhandle region.
According to the NWS, above-average temperatures are expected for the weekend in the eastern, mid-South, and central/southern Plains. These warmer conditions are anticipated to extend westward by Monday.
Heat indices in the triple digits and soaring as high as 115 degrees will make the weather conditions across southern Texas, the Gulf Coast, and Florida feel oppressively hot.
In those areas, there could be several instances of record high temperatures, posing a potential danger for those spending extended periods of time outdoors.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the Rockies, northwest, and north-central United States can anticipate a drop in temperatures throughout the weekend.
