This Week’s Travel Weather Outlook: Heat Builds in the West as Storms Target the East

The West is heating up, with a persistent stretch of hot, mostly dry weather expanding from the Southwest toward the Rockies and High Plains. Meanwhile, a series of fronts will bring showers and thunderstorms from the Midwest through the Great Lakes, Northeast and parts of the Southeast.

For travelers, that means the weather could play a much bigger role in your plans depending on where you’re headed.

The West: Hot, Hotter and Expanding

The biggest travel-weather concern this week is heat across the Southwest and Intermountain West.

Places such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, southern Utah and parts of New Mexico will remain very hot. The heat doesn’t stay confined to the desert, either. Warmer conditions are expected to expand northward toward Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, then east toward the High Plains.

For travelers visiting national parks, this is particularly important.

Popular destinations to watch

Grand Canyon, Arizona
The heat can be intense, particularly around the lower elevations of the canyon. If hiking, make an early start and don’t underestimate how quickly conditions can become uncomfortable.

Las Vegas, Nevada
Expect plenty of sunshine and very hot conditions. This is a good week to make the most of indoor attractions during the afternoon and save outdoor sightseeing for earlier or later in the day.

Zion National Park, Utah
Heat will be an important consideration for hikers. Start early, carry plenty of water and remember that shaded areas don’t necessarily mean cool conditions.

Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona
This is not the week to casually underestimate the heat. Outdoor activities are best planned around the cooler parts of the day.

Denver, Colorado
The heat will gradually become more noticeable as the ridge expands north and east. Denver can still be a good base for exploring Colorado, but travelers heading into the mountains should watch afternoon thunderstorm chances.

The Southwest Has a Twist: Monsoon Storms

While much of the West stays hot and dry, Arizona and New Mexico will see increasing monsoon activity.

That means a trip to places such as Sedona, Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, Santa Fe and Albuquerque could include a mix of sunshine, heat and sudden afternoon or evening thunderstorms.

The storms can be very localized.

You could have sunshine at one location while a nearby canyon or mountain is getting a heavy downpour.

If you’re hiking:

Don’t just look at the morning forecast.

Check the forecast again before heading out, particularly if your plans involve mountains, exposed terrain or narrow canyons. Lightning and sudden heavy rain can change conditions quickly.

Utah and Colorado could also see some of this moisture, although the storm coverage should generally be more scattered.

Midwest & Great Lakes: Storms Could Disrupt Plans

Travelers heading to the Midwest and Great Lakes should keep an eye on the forecast, particularly from Thursday into the weekend.

A front moving through the region will bring a chance for showers and thunderstorms, including some locally heavy rainfall.

Cities and destinations to watch include:

  • Chicago
  • Milwaukee
  • Detroit
  • Cleveland
  • Indianapolis
  • St. Louis
  • Kansas City
  • Minneapolis

The good news? This doesn’t necessarily mean it will rain all day. Summer storm systems can produce periods of sunshine interrupted by relatively short-lived storms. The bigger issue for travelers is timing.

A thunderstorm during a road trip, outdoor attraction or airport departure can create a much bigger headache than a normal rain shower.

Chicago: Have a Backup Plan

Chicago is one of the places where travelers should keep a little flexibility in their plans.

If you’re visiting attractions such as Millennium Park, Navy Pier or the Chicago Riverwalk, check the radar before heading out.

A storm doesn’t mean the entire day is ruined. But having a museum, restaurant or other indoor attraction available can make the day much easier.

Northeast: Showers and Storms Remain Possible

The Northeast isn’t expected to experience the same extreme heat dominating the West.

Instead, near-normal temperatures combined with periodic showers and thunderstorms will be the story.

That includes popular destinations such as:

  • New York City
  • Boston
  • Philadelphia
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Niagara Falls
  • Adirondacks
  • Maine and coastal New England

For city travelers, this may simply mean carrying an umbrella and having a flexible itinerary.

For travelers planning outdoor activities, however, thunderstorms can temporarily change the plan.

Niagara Falls travelers

If you’re visiting Niagara Falls, the weather shouldn’t necessarily keep you away—but build some flexibility into your schedule. Storms can move through quickly, so don’t assume a cloudy or rainy morning means the entire day will be a washout.

Southeast & Gulf Coast: A Wetter Pattern May Develop

The Southeast could become one of the wetter areas of the country toward the weekend and early next week.Moisture moving north from the Gulf and Atlantic will help fuel additional showers and thunderstorms. That puts destinations such as:

Miami • Orlando • Charleston • Savannah • New Orleans • Gulf Shores • Tampa • Jacksonville

on the Weather Passport watch list.

Again, this doesn’t mean nonstop rain. Summer rain in the Southeast is often highly variable. One neighborhood can get a downpour while another stays relatively dry.

For travelers, the key is to watch the hourly timing rather than simply looking at the daily rain chance for the day as a whole.

Pacific Northwest: A Little Relief Ahead

After a hot and mostly dry stretch across much of the West, the Pacific Northwest may finally get a change in the pattern.

A weak front arriving this weekend and early next week should bring somewhat cooler temperatures to places such as Seattle, Portland and parts of the northern Cascades.

For travelers planning outdoor activities, that could actually be welcome news.

Popular destinations including Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park and the Oregon Coast can be much more pleasant when temperatures aren’t running excessively warm.

Be safe this week and remember to check the forecacast often. -Meteorologist Brent Watts