4th of July Weather 2024: What to Expect During the Long Holiday Weekend?

The 4^th of July weather this week may not be pleasant for all the contiguous United States. This is because the latest weather forecast shows that the long holiday weekend is expected to see severe thunderstorms and extreme heat in different parts of the country. On Tuesday, July 2, the National Oceanic and Space Administration (NOAA) forecasted storms in the Heartland region and triple-digit temperatures in the Western US.

The US Independence Day forecast for 2024 shows that heavy rain caused by severe weather may hit the Central US starting Thursday, July 4. The storms can also be accompanied by large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. Meanwhile, extreme heat will continue in the West and may spread into the Eastern US in the coming days.

In the previous 4^th of July celebrations in the US, at least several thousand American travelers experienced inconveniences due to inclement weather. In 2023, 4^th of July holiday plans were disrupted because of severe storms, with US meteorologists warning of hurricane-force winds at that time. In 2022, summer heat and humidity also became a problem in the Northeast US during the Fourth of July weekend.

4^th of July Weather 2024

Based on the NOAA's 4^th of July weather forecast, the long holiday weekend is expected to see a combination of severe storms in the Heartland and heat surges in the eastern half of the country. On Wednesday, July 3, temperatures are expected to exceed 5 to 10 degrees from historical averages over the Ohio River Valley and into the western Appalachian Mountain regions, according to the short-range forecast.

Meanwhile, the NOAA said that fire weather conditions like heat and humidity can be pushed back into the New England region in the Northeast US from the southern part of the country on Thursday. These hot weather conditions may persist through the holiday weekend and extend even until next week. In recent years, related forecasts have been issued by meteorologists ahead of the Independence Day holiday.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service (NWS) at 3:50 a.m. EDT (local time) on Wednesday described the looming 4^th of July weather to be dominated by a "dangerous heat wave" that will impact the West, a forecast similar to the one provided by the NOAA. Furthermore, the oppressive heat will also affect the southern Great Plains and Mid-Atlantic regions, the NWS adds.

Heat-Related Illnesses

Over the past month, US health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have warned against the risks of heat-related illnesses which can lead to death. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that weather-related deaths are mainly caused by heat stress.

Citing studies conducted between 2000 and 2019, the WHO said there were approximately 489,000 recorded heat-related deaths during this period. The health organization warned that heat should be taken seriously since it also exacerbates existing illnesses, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.