WASHINGTON — Although meteorological summer doesn’t begin until June 1st and astronomical summer doesn’t begin until June 21st, this upcoming Memorial Day weekend tends to mark the “unofficial start to summer” for many. For the US as a whole, Friday through Monday (5/25 – 5/28) is projected to trend the #1 wettest and #1 warmest in the last 27+ years. While many across the country are indeed expected to see above normal temperatures this weekend, it won’t be a wash-out for all.
On Friday, May 25th, a large portion of the western and central US, and up into the Northeast is forecast to trend at least 5-10F above normal. The Northern Rockies and Central Plains are likely to see temperatures jump 10-15F above normal, while the Northern Plains trend more than 15F above normal. Trends in the Southeast, however, will only be about 1-5F above normal. Florida and California are the 2 spots that could see temperatures closer or even slightly below normal to start off the long holiday weekend. By Saturday, cooler than normal trends are expected to expand along the West Coast and in Florida as well. Meanwhile, temperatures in the central portion of the country continue to trend well above normal with many from the Rockies to New England trending at least 5-10F above normal. Heading into Sunday, the Central US continues its hot streak, trending generally 10-15+ F above normal. Temperatures well above normal will also spread across the Great Lakes area and into portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Near to slightly cooler than normal trends continue in the Southwest on Sunday and expand into parts of the Southeast as well. On Memorial Day, Monday, cooler trends are expected for northern New England and some pockets of the Southeast. The Central US continues to trend significantly warmer than normal with much of the Upper Midwest trending more than 15F above normal. The West finally receives some warmer than normal temperatures, especially along the coast.
So while temperatures, for the most part, will make it feel like summer this weekend, rains could throw a wrench in your plans for beach trips, picnics, and barbeques – especially if you live in the Southeast. Tropical moisture is expected to continue to flow into the Southeast through the holiday weekend and into next week thanks, in part, to a low-pressure system currently located near the southeastern part of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. This system, which could very well become the first named tropical system of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane season – Alberto – is expected to follow a mostly northerly track toward the US Gulf Coast over the next several days, ushering in frequent rains and thunderstorms. Regardless of whether or not the system becomes Alberto, or even evolves into just a Tropical Depression, these conditions are still expected for many from Louisiana to the Carolinas. The low’s track will ultimately determine which areas receive the highest amount of rain, but flooding will remain a concern for the Southeast through next week. Rains are also likely this holiday weekend up into the Mid-Atlantic and out in the Northern Rockies. Current forecasts project the driest weather for the Memorial Day weekend to be in the Southwest, Texas and Oklahoma, the Pacific Northwest, and much of the eastern Corn Belt.