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Cool, wet Memorial Day weekend forecast expected across the East

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Americans hoping for a warm and sunny start to summer may instead find umbrellas and jackets necessary this Memorial Day weekend, as forecasters predict an unusually cool and wet pattern across much of the eastern half of the country, including south-central Pennsylvania.

According to FOX Weather, widespread rain and thunderstorms are expected from Texas through the Northeast during the holiday weekend, threatening outdoor gatherings, cookouts and travel plans for millions.

Meteorologists say a high-pressure system parked off the East Coast will pull moisture inland from the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico while storm systems move eastward across the nation’s midsection. The setup is expected to produce periods of heavy rain from Friday through Memorial Day.

Parts of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas could receive 3 to 5 inches of rain over the holiday weekend, with major airports in Dallas, Houston and Atlanta among the travel hubs most likely to experience delays.

In the Northeast, including Pennsylvania, the forecast will take a dramatic turn after several days of summerlike heat. Temperatures that recently climbed into the 80s and 90s are expected to tumble back into the 60s for much of the weekend after a cold front sweeps through the region.

Forecasters say south-central Pennsylvania, including the Gettysburg and Harrisburg areas, could see periods of chilly rain and cloudy skies from Saturday through Memorial Day, creating conditions that may feel more like early spring than the unofficial start of summer.

The gloomy forecast could impact community parades, backyard picnics and travel throughout the region. While severe weather is not expected to be widespread in Pennsylvania, persistent rain and cool temperatures may force many holiday events indoors.

The best Memorial Day weather is expected across the western U.S. and Northern Plains, where drier and milder conditions are forecast.

Nationally, the rainy pattern continues what has already been an unusually active and stormy spring across large sections of the country, with repeated systems bringing flooding concerns and travel disruptions in recent weeks.

Source: FOX Weather

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