Solar eclipse travel forecast: Storms may cause delays in southern, eastern US
Overall, few travel problems are anticipated this weekend for those traveling in hopes to see the best view of Monday's total solar eclipse. However, there will be some trouble spots related to summer storms.
In most cases, the summertime thunderstorms anticipated will be more of a nuisance, rather than a major deterrent. Even sporadic storms can slow motorists down and lead to airline delays.
Most of the storms throughout the nation will occur between 2 and 10 p.m., local time, but there will be some exceptions.
There is a chance of early-morning fog and low clouds at any location that receives rain during the afternoon or evening a day or two before. Locally dense morning fog can form in the river valleys regardless of prior day's rainfall.
Stormy pattern to continue in southeastern US
The greatest concentration of thunderstorms will be near the Southeast and Gulf coasts, and they can occur both days of the weekend.
"Showers and storms from the eastern Carolinas to the Gulf Coast states are most likely to be troublesome for ground and air travel," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.
Storms in this area may also tend to be the most disruptive since they can be heavy enough to cause localized street and highway flooding, in addition to poor visibility.
Southern cities at risk for airline disruptions related to thunderstorms include New Orleans; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Orlando and Miami, Florida.
The greatest concentration of downpours will be along Interstate 10.
A small number of storms in the Southeast may bubble up in or linger through the late-night and morning hours.
Drier air filtering across interior areas of the Southeast will lead to good traveling weather in cities such as Nashville and Atlanta.
Thunderstorms may affect some major central and northeastern US hubs on Saturday
As a new storm moves eastward over the Central states, a few gusty storms are likely to erupt over the Ohio Valley on Saturday.
"A thunderstorm could effect the major hubs of Detroit, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh on Saturday," Pydynowski said.
Any of these locations and others in the Midwest and Northeast will be at risk for a torrential downpour that can lead to isolated urban flooding and brief wind gusts.
On Sunday, much of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley are likely to dry out. Meanwhile, the next storm system will spread severe thunderstorms from Minnesota to South Dakota and part of Nebraska.
Wet weather may linger in northern New England.
Few storms to bubble up over interior Southwest
Storms will also riddle the interior Southwest with the most coverage likely over New Mexico and Colorado both days of the weekend.
"When compared to storms in the Southeast, the storms in the Southwest will be much more widely separated in nature," Pydynowski said.
Most of the storms in the Southwest tend to bring little rainfall. On occasion, even distant storms can cause highly localized flash flooding.
It is possible that early morning low clouds and fog may lead to airline delays in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle on one or both days of the weekend.
Storms to avoid northwestern US
Some of the best travel weather compared to the rest of the nation may be over the interior Northwest this weekend.
Most of the region will be free of rain.
Motorists should check their route as there are some large wildfires burning in the region and in the Southwest. Inciweb will have the most up-to-date fire information for the entire United States, including maps.
In the vicinity of fires, smoke could significantly reduce the visibility with little notice.
When in doubt, stick to the major highways as long as possible. The major highways will receive the most attention in terms of firefighting efforts.
Click on the banner above to visit AccuWeather's center for the Great American Eclipse.
