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Memorial Day ceremonies will be held on May 25, so participants in parts of the eastern half of the United States may be avoiding showers and thunderstorms, while the West will remain largely dry and hot.
The National Weather Service announced in its May 24 forecast that much of the central and southeastern United States faces a risk of showers and thunderstorms on Memorial Day.
Low pressure and plenty of moisture along a slow-moving front will continue to produce wet, active weather, with multiple showers and thunderstorms expected from the lower Mississippi River basin, south central and southeast regions to the Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic coast, and northeast region on May 25. That includes more than 10 million people who could be at a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms, including parts of New Mexico, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota.
The heaviest rain and possible flash flooding is expected from southeastern Louisiana to Tennessee and the Carolinas.
Meanwhile, the weather bureau announced that a high-pressure system will keep much of the western United States mostly dry and warmer than normal. High temperatures are expected in the desert valleys of California, Nevada and Arizona, where highs could reach the 100s early in the week.
However, the Pacific Northwest may see some precipitation as Memorial Day progresses. The highest elevations in the Cascades will experience a chance of rain showers and a chance of snow.
drought worsens
The U.S. Drought Monitor, released May 21, shows the area of the country in severe or severe drought has doubled in the past three months, increasing from 22% to 44%, said Alan Gerrard, a former federal meteorologist who publishes the Balanced Weather Blog at Substack. As a result, the drought severity and coverage index reached 206, the highest since 2012 and surpassing the summer-autumn drought of 2023, Gerrard wrote.
Flash floods occur in the south
Thunderstorms are expected, which could spell bad news for some parts of the south.
After months of drought, the South is in dire need of rain, but lightning strikes and rain that come too quickly could cause further problems, including fires and flash flooding. Flash flooding was reported on May 24 in the Houston and Galveston Weather Service areas of southeast Texas.
On May 24, approximately 17 million people from Texas to West Virginia were placed under flood watches.
In a May 24 X post, the National Weather Service in New Orleans reported that Gulfport, Mississippi, received 7.19 inches of rain over three days, while Houma, Louisiana, received 4.09 inches and New Orleans received just over 3 inches.
Gerrard also wrote that an upper-level pattern called the Omega Block appears to be forming, with a high-pressure area over parts of the central United States and an active area to the south that can use extremely moist air to generate thunderstorms with “torrential rain.”
cold waters of maine
The National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, warned that unseasonably cold ocean waters are dangerous, with swimmers being fooled into believing how frigid the waters are.
Water temperatures will only be in the mid-50s throughout Lake Sebago and Lake Winnipesaukee, and in the mid-50s in other lakes and rivers in the region. Falling off a boat when the water temperature is below 60 degrees can quickly lead to hypothermia, the Japan Meteorological Agency warned.
“Persons in small boats, canoes, and kayaks should plan accordingly and use extreme caution,” the weather service advised.
Dinah Boyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, covers climate change, weather, the environment and other news. Contact dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or dinahvp.77 on X or Signal.
