Blog Article
Best Memorial Day Weekend Weather: West Coast & Plains Forecast
While the East Coast dodges rain this holiday weekend, the Pacific Northwest, California, and the High Plains are serving up flawless outdoor weather.
The Memorial Day Weekend Divide: Finding the Perfect Weather Out West
Hey y'all. We are heading into one of the biggest travel and outdoor weekends of the year. If you have been watching the national radar, you know a slow moving frontal system is making a mess of the eastern half of the country. Folks heading to the Indy 500 or the Coca-Cola 600 are tracking rain chances, and the Gulf Coast is dealing with some serious flash flood threats.
But if we look at the western half of the map, it is a completely different story. A building ridge of high pressure is bringing exceptionally comfortable, dry air to the Pacific Northwest, the High Plains, and the Southwest. If you want to see exactly how your hometown stacks up, you can check out our full Nice Weather outlook page.
Here is a look at where the weather is actually cooperating for your holiday plans.
Friday: Pacific Northwest Perfection
If you live in Oregon or Washington, Friday is the day to take your lunch break outside or get an early start on a weekend camping trip. We are seeing a massive zone of "Perfect" conditions parked over the Pacific Northwest.
Cities like Salem and Hillsboro, Oregon, are hitting an incredible 92 out of 100 on our comfort scale. You can expect afternoon highs right around 65 degrees, crisp dewpoints in the low 40s, and brilliant sunshine. The only tiny caveat keeping this from being an absolutely pristine day is some very light atmospheric haze keeping the air quality index in the low 40s. It is nothing that will ruin your day, but it is there.
Further south, California is also looking fantastic. If you are heading out to the BottleRock festival in Napa Valley, you are in luck. The entire Bay Area and Sacramento Valley are locked into the "Beautiful" category with zero chance of rain and light breezes.
Saturday: The High Plains Hit the Sweet Spot
As we get into Saturday, that zone of optimal comfort shifts eastward into the Central Plains and the Desert Southwest.
Rapid City, South Dakota, takes the number one spot nationwide on Saturday with a score of 92. If you are planning a patio barbecue or a hike in the Black Hills, you are getting a highly comfortable high of 71 degrees and incredibly crisp air.
Meanwhile, the Desert Southwest is warming up right on schedule. Phoenix and Tucson are sitting in the "Beautiful" category. You will see typical Memorial Day weekend warmth touching the 90s, but the humidity is bottomed out to keep things comfortable. Just remember that the UV index is creeping up to an 8.0 across these zones. The sun will be intense, so keep the sunscreen handy if you are spending the afternoon outside.
Sunday: A Stellar Setup for the Intermountain West
By Sunday, the absolute best weather in the country settles over the Southern Rockies and the Intermountain West.
This area is scoring an 86 overall, driven by flawlessly dry air and mostly clear skies. Highs will average in the upper 80s, but with dewpoints sitting comfortably in the 50s, it will feel warm and pleasant rather than muggy.
If you are stuck under the clouds in the East or dodging thunderstorms in Texas this weekend, just know that better days are ahead. For those of you lucky enough to be sitting under these high pressure ridges out West, enjoy every minute of it. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.