A lack of major storms and cold air across the lower 48 states will help with New Year's Eve and New Year's Day festivities as well as the end of holiday travel in most locations. However, there will be some difficult points.
“Conditions in most of the country are about as good as can be expected for the end of December and early January,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Doty said, adding: “It's really going to be great — which is great for most places.” Considering how bad it is this time of year.
How is New Year's Eve shaping up for traditional hot spots?
More than a million people will gather in Manhattan's Times Square on New Year's Eve, according to ABC News. Although the temperature will not be a balmy 70 degrees, it will not be too cold or rainy.
The highest fall temperature on record was in 1965-66 and 1972-73, with a reading of 58°F. The lowest temperature for this event was 1°F in 1917-1918, with an AccuWeather RealFeel® estimate of close to 20 degrees below zero. . For ball drop on the cusp of 2023-2024, the actual temperature will be within two degrees of the 40°F mark, several degrees above the historical average of 34 degrees. Along with dry conditions, a light breeze from the west and northwest will contribute to a RealFeel® high in the mid 30s Sunday night.
New Year's Eve weather in some other major celebration destinations, including Nashville, Atlanta, Orlando, San Antonio and Las Vegas, looks to be rain-free.
However, conditions may be a little cooler than most people in Central Florida are accustomed to in late December and early January, with temperatures dipping into the 50s at theme parks around Orlando.
It could be a bit rainy in other New Year's Eve destinations, such as San Francisco, with showers possible nearby. The latest data indicates that precipitation may stop Monday afternoon around New Orleans. Temperatures around the Big Easy and the city by the bay will be mainly in the 50s through Sunday evening.
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Snow showers could make for rough, slippery rides around the Great Lakes region, but widespread heavy snowfall is unlikely at the start of 2024.
In Southern California, most of the night should be rain-free, but an offshore storm may try to throw clouds directly toward the coast later Sunday night.
Will the mild weather continue on New Year's Day?
The same storm may continue to hover near the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl college football game in Pasadena, California, on New Year's Day with temperatures mainly in the 60s. At this time, AccuWeather meteorologists expect rain to stay away.
While most people will choose to travel before New Year's Day, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the few who travel on Monday should generally enjoy good travel conditions across the country with some exceptions, similar to Sunday.
Snow showers will tend to persist and may cause slippery conditions and reduced visibility around the eastern Great Lakes region on New Year's Day and on higher ground in the Central Appalachians.
With more than 10,000 people taking to the streets of Philadelphia on New Year's Day to participate in a pantomime tradition that spans more than 120 years, temperatures will be near or slightly above the historical average of 43 degrees Fahrenheit. There may be occasional sprinkles or snowflakes, but no heavy rain or snow accumulation is expected.
Meanwhile, the rain area will likely expand slowly from Louisiana to the east over the southern states and could produce pockets of soft travel and puddles on some roads.
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