Blog Article
Memorial Day Weekend Weather: Best Forecasts Across the US
Looking for the best Memorial Day weekend weather? See why the Pacific Northwest, Central Plains, and California are scoring perfect outdoor ratings.
Memorial Day Weekend Winners: Finding the Perfect Holiday Weather
Y'all know the drill for a holiday weekend. Half the country is trying to keep the charcoal dry, and the other half is fighting for a spot in the shade. If you are tracking the radar for the Indy 500 or the Coca-Cola 600, you already know the eastern half of the US is dealing with a slow moving front and plenty of rain.
But if you look out West and across the Plains, the atmosphere is serving up an absolute masterclass in outdoor weather. A broad upper-level ridge is keeping things unseasonably warm and dry, making it a great time to be outside. If you want to see exactly how your hometown scores this weekend, check out our full Nice Weather outlook page.
Here is a look at the absolute best weather for the long weekend.
Saturday: The Pacific Northwest Shows Off
Saturday belongs to the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Plains. We are seeing Perfect Day scores of 92.0 for Portland, Salem, and Eugene in Oregon, as well as Bismarck, North Dakota.
If you are in Portland, expect highs right around 73 degrees with crisp dewpoints in the 40s and practically zero chance of rain. It is pristine weather for a trailhead or a patio lunch. Down in California, folks heading to the BottleRock festival in Napa are getting treated to a Beautiful day with highs in the upper 70s.
The only catch for Saturday is the sun. We are seeing UV indices creeping up near 8 across these perfect zones, so you will want to keep the sunscreen handy if you are out for a long stretch.
Sunday: The Central Plains Sweet Spot
By Sunday, the absolute best air shifts into the Midwest and Central High Plains. Kansas City, Missouri, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, take the top spots with Perfect 92.0 scores.
This is exactly what you want for a Sunday cookout. Highs will climb into the mid 80s, but the humidity is staying entirely in check with dewpoints in the upper 50s. Cloud cover is sitting at a minimal 16 percent. Just keep an eye on the breeze, as winds will be sustained around 11 to 15 mph. It will feel refreshing, but it might steal a few paper plates off the picnic table.
Memorial Day: California Sweeps the Board
As we close out the long weekend on Monday, California puts on a clinic. Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and Fresno completely dominate our top 10 list with Beautiful ratings.
A cooling trend is bringing below normal temperatures to the California coast, keeping highs in the very comfortable 70s. San Jose is looking at 72 degrees with just a 4 percent chance of a stray shower. Inland, the dry air is holding strong. In fact, places like Lancaster and Palmdale in Southern California are currently riding a 13 day streak of nice weather.
While the West Coast enjoys the holiday, just be mindful of the air quality. The AQI is forecast to hover in the moderate 60s for parts of California on Monday, which is the only thing keeping these cities from hitting a flawless score.
Stay safe, keep an eye on the sky if you are in the stormy East, and enjoy the long weekend y'all.