Happy 250th USA! Here's your July 4th weekend forecast

Stars, stripes and lots of sun: Much of the central and eastern U.S. will swelter under extreme heat for America’s semiquincentennial celebrations, as the West enjoys more typical summer temperatures.

Here’s our national weather summary for Independence Day weekend:

A dangerous summer scorcher for millions 

A persistent heat dome will bake a good chunk of the U.S. late week. High temperatures will soar 10-20 degrees F above average across the eastern third of the U.S. on Friday and Saturday, before the hottest air pushes into the Southeast on Sunday. Heat index temperatures, which measure how hot it feels when you factor in the relative humidity, will range from 105-115 degrees across a good portion of the Mid-South, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Numerous daily temperature records are expected and long-time heat records will be threatened in some locations.

The very hot and humid air will pose a major-to-extreme HeatRisk for much of the eastern half of the country.  This means everyone should take steps to stay cool and hydrated, not just those who are sensitive to heat. These locations will also see very little overnight relief as low temperatures stay quite warm.

On Sunday, temperatures will remain very hot, but the core of the most intense heat will shift to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. High temperatures will still soar to the upper 90s to near 100 degrees in major cities like Charlotte, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, and across a good portion of the Deep South. Factoring in the humidity, temperatures will feel like they range from 100-110 degrees in areas.

Some relief from the heat will sweep from the Midwest into the eastern U.S. by Monday.

Showers and storms mainly east of the Rockies

Outdoor cookouts and fireworks shows may be dampened by afternoon and evening thunderstorms across the eastern two-thirds of the nation for the Fourth.

A cold front, which will eventually bring cooler temperatures for next week,  will likely trigger thunderstorms with the potential for heavy rain across the Northern Plains, Great Lakes and Midwest for Friday and Saturday. Some thunderstorms could be strong to severe.

Farther east, U.S., the extreme heat and humidity will fuel afternoon showers and thunderstorms across parts of the Northeast, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic through July 4th. By Sunday, more widespread shower and thunderstorm chances will remain across much of the eastern and southern U.S.

Superb weekend for much of the West, but fire risk remains

The West will escape much of the sweltering heat heading into Independence Day weekend. In fact, many places will see temperatures running about average, to slightly below average, from coastal California northward through the Pacific Northwest. Abundant sunshine is expected up and down the Pacific Coast.

The Four Corners region will be sunny and warm this weekend, but fire weather concerns will remain high for much of the region. Please follow all local guidelines for grilling safety and leave fireworks displays to the trained professionals during any holiday celebrations.

The Desert Southwest will see its usual early July heat under mostly sunny skies. The chance for rain looks rather slim, with the exception of afternoon showers and storms developing in eastern Colorado, New Mexico and West Texas.

Resources: Staying safe and healthy in any weather

The NWS Weather Safety page is your one-stop resource to prepare for any type of hazardous weather. 

Get the latest severe weather information over the holiday weekend from our Storm Prediction Center (SPC) page that now includes conditional intensity, which allows SPC forecasters to highlight areas at risk for more intense or violent storms. 

Keep on top of the latest fire weather forecast and review these wildfire safety tips. Be sure to check out these important summer safety tips and resources before heading outside, and always remember — when thunder roars, go indoors. 

Plus:

• To view a customized weather forecast and current conditions for your area, visit weather.gov and enter your ZIP Code.
• Follow @NWS on X offsite link, Facebook and via your local NOAA National Weather Service forecast office on social media.
• Swim safely: Learn what a rip current is, what it looks like from the beach and how to survive one.

Happy 250th Independence Day to all!