As families across the United States prepare to celebrate Father’s Day this Sunday, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski reports that the West is poised to offer the best weather for outdoor celebrations, boasting abundant sunshine and minimal rain risk. In contrast, widespread thunderstorms are expected to impact outdoor plans for many in the Eastern and Central U.S.
While Mother’s Day often calls for restaurant outings, Father’s Day traditionally involves a variety of close-to-home outdoor activities, from baseball games and beach trips to fishing excursions and backyard barbecues. Of course, a leisurely snooze on the couch or in a hammock is also a popular choice for dads.
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Those celebrating west of the Rockies can anticipate ideal conditions. West Coast beaches will see morning low clouds burn off to reveal afternoon sunshine, though ocean waters will remain typically chilly. Inland, the West will experience very warm to hot temperatures, with widespread highs in the 80s and 90s, and desert areas potentially reaching 100 degrees. Outdoor enthusiasts are advised to stay hydrated and exercise caution with open flames due to drying landscapes and increased wildfire risk. Sparse thunderstorm activity is only expected over the eastern side of the Rockies.
East of the Rockies, however, the forecast takes a turn. AccuWeather meteorologists predict a significant zone of potentially severe thunderstorms across the central and northern Plains and parts of the Midwest. Farther east, from the Mississippi Valley to the Atlantic Seaboard, higher humidity levels and typical June warmth will lead to a mosaic of showers and thunderstorms.
While not every area will experience downpours, where rain does fall, it could be heavy and last for a couple of hours, primarily between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time. This suggests morning to midday hours may offer a better window for outdoor activities.
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Specific areas where showers and thunderstorms could occur at any time for multiple hours include the lower Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, southern Appalachians, and the lower part of the Mid-Atlantic coast, with another pocket over the northern Plains.
Despite the widespread storm threat, a pocket of high pressure near Bermuda might keep storms away from the southern Atlantic beaches from Florida to North Carolina for most of the day.
The Southeast will generally be very warm and humid where rain holds off. Additionally, a small area of high pressure with cooler, drier air may keep much of New England, parts of upstate New York, and the central Great Lakes dry.
Whether dads are hitting the links or the grill, families are encouraged to check their local forecasts and plan accordingly, especially for those celebrating in the thunderstorm-prone regions.
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