Participants take cover during an early rain near the Washington Monument on the National Mall before July 4th celebrations last year. This year, some showers are likely to skirt northern New England and upstate New York, but the day and evening of July 4 are likely to be free of rain in the zone from Boston to New York City and Washington, D.C. File Photo (2024) by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
A record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel during the days leading up to the July 4th weekend, with 62.2 million to travel by car, the American Automobile Association (AAA) stated in a press release.
For some, it's a day trip. For others, it is a long weekend or an entire week of travel from the last weekend in June through the first weekend of July, visiting friends, relatives or spending time at the beach or the mountains.
In the several days leading up to the Fourth of July, expect very warm to hot conditions in much of the West, typical summer warmth from the Great Lakes to the Northeast and humid conditions with showers and thunderstorms from New Mexico to the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.
"Portions of the Midwest, Southeast and interior Southwest stand the most likely chance for some disruptive downpours and potent thunderstorm activity on Friday, July 4," AccuWeather's Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
