Election Day forecast: Where rain and thunderstorms could disrupt voting plans
Much of the nation will enjoy favorable weather for Election Day, but thunderstorms, downpours and lingering impacts from weekend flooding could create travel headaches in parts of the country.
AccuWeather’s Geoff Cornish breaks down the forecast for a storm that’s expected to push across the entire country in the first days of November.
Millions of Americans will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and the weather will be working in their favor across much of the country. However, rain and thunderstorms could complicate travel plans in parts of the southern United States, with some storms potentially turning severe.
The biggest weather concerns will be concentrated across the central and southern United States, where showers, steady rain and thunderstorms will stretch from the Gulf Coast into portions of the Mississippi Valley and Midwest.
Farther east and west, conditions will generally be more favorable, with dry weather expected across much of the Northeast, Northwest and parts of the Southeast. Here's a closer look at what voters can expect across the country on Election Day.
Northeast and mid-Atlantic: Dry and comfortable
Voters across the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and eastern Ohio Valley should have little weather-related interference when heading to the polls.
High pressure will keep skies largely dry, while temperatures trend slightly above the seasonal average. From New York City and Boston to Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh, favorable weather will make for relatively easy travel to polling locations.
Southeast: Showers near the coast, wetter in Florida
The Southeast will see a mix of conditions, with much of the region remaining dry but a few showers possible along the immediate coastal areas of South Carolina and Georgia.
Florida will be the exception, as more numerous showers are expected across the Sunshine State. While widespread severe weather is not anticipated, periods of rain could lead to locally wet roads for voters traveling to polling locations.
Gulf Coast and Mississippi Valley: Severe storms pose the biggest concern
The most significant weather concerns on Election Day will be across portions of the central and western Gulf Coast and the lower to middle Mississippi Valley.
Warm, humid air will help fuel thunderstorms, some of which could become severe from eastern Texas and Louisiana northward into portions of Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri.
The strongest storms could produce damaging wind gusts of 50-60 mph, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 75 mph. A few tornadoes, hail and flash flooding will also be possible.
Downpours could lead to rapidly changing road conditions, while stronger wind gusts could bring down trees and power lines, potentially causing isolated power outages.
Voters across this region should remain weather-aware throughout the day, particularly if planning to visit polling locations during periods of thunderstorms.
Midwest: Showers and steady rain
Showers and pockets of steady rain will stretch across portions of the Midwest on Tuesday.
Areas from Kansas and Nebraska into Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan could experience periods of wet weather. While widespread flooding and severe thunderstorms are not expected, several hours of rain in some locations could lead to slick roads and minor travel delays.
Voters may want to allow extra time when traveling to polling locations, especially during periods of steadier rainfall.
Plains: Rain departing and becoming windy
Farther west across the Plains, conditions will be quieter as rain moves away from the region.
Largely dry weather is expected, although gusty winds will develop on the back side of the departing rain. While the wind could make conditions uncomfortable at times, widespread precipitation is not expected to interfere with Election Day activities.
Southwest: Dry weather follows a soaking weekend
After a very wet weekend across parts of the Southwest, drier weather will return in time for Election Day.
However, the departure of the rain does not necessarily mean all weather-related problems will be behind residents. Flash flooding and runoff over the weekend could have caused road washouts and closures, with cleanup efforts potentially continuing into Tuesday.
Travelers should check local road conditions before heading out, as lingering impacts from the weekend's heavy rain could remain even after the skies clear.
Northwest: High pressure to keep conditions dry
High pressure will maintain dry weather across much of the Northwest, providing favorable conditions for voters throughout the region.
From Seattle and Spokane, Washington, to Portland widespread precipitation is not expected, making for a relatively uneventful Election Day from a weather standpoint.
California: Northern showers, Southern California stays dry
California will see a noticeable difference in weather conditions between its northern and southern portions.
An incoming storm will approach Northern California, spreading showers from the San Francisco Bay Area northward. Periods of rain could create slick roads and slower travel in some communities.
Farther south, dry weather is expected across Los Angeles, San Diego and surrounding communities, allowing voters to head to the polls without significant weather-related concerns.
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