High heat and thunderstorms will once again be major weather stories across the country on the Fourth of July, but conditions won't be as extreme or widespread as they have been in recent days, meteorologists say.
However, record temperatures will likely make for a sweltering holiday in parts of the western United States, especially the usually temperate Pacific Northwest, where high temperatures will approach 100 degrees in Oregon.
The greatest severe weather threat on the 4th will focus on the central and northern Plains, where thunderstorms could produce damaging winds and large hail late in the day and night, AccuWeather said.
Thunderstorms and lightning briefly delayed the men's event at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York, on Tuesday, as the National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather forecast for heavy rain and possible flooding. The weather service said it had received reports of a possible lightning strike in Coney Island and a possible home strike in Marine Park in Brooklyn.
Heavy rain in Hartford, Connecticut, prompted water rescues when several cars became trapped in floodwaters, the weather service said. A 911 call center in Spring City, Tennessee, told the weather service it was receiving calls about floodwaters flowing into homes and parking lots.
The western heat wave continues
The weather service said the hum of the Southwest Desert and West Coast is expected to continue on the 4th.
Record temperatures are expected to hit northern California and western Oregon on Tuesday. Highs are expected to reach the 90s and lows 100 degrees, the weather service said.
Temperatures are expected to challenge daily record highs along parts of I-5, ranging from nearly 90 degrees in Seattle to below 100 degrees in Medford, Oregon, AccuWeather predicts.
Highs are also expected to reach triple digits throughout the Desert Southwest. The National Weather Service said that an excessive heat warning was in effect on Tuesday for both Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.
Elsewhere, “It will be another day with much of the heat and humidity that July is known for in the Southeast, Plains, Midwest and parts of the Northeast,” according to Weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce.
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Heat index forecast map
Windy on the plains, best in the northeast
Scattered severe thundershowers are expected over the central Great Plains beginning Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night. The Storm Prediction Center said severe thunderstorms will be the main risk.
In the Northeast, forecasters said localized heavy rain could impact vacation plans from parts of New York state to New England on Tuesday, but most of the stormy weather could stay away from the Interstate 95 corridor.
“After two active days Sunday and Monday in terms of rain and thunderstorms, people along the I-95 corridor should see holiday improvement on Tuesday,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean Devore said. He added that while storms may approach the coast in parts of Virginia and the Carolinas, areas to the north may see calmer conditions.
“For most areas, these storms will be hit-or-miss type storms, but you should have a plan to take shelter if you hear thunder during any outdoor plans,” Dolce said.
US weather monitoring and warnings
Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver
