Fox Weather warns Memorial Day storms

Fox Weather said on May 18 that heavy rain, thunderstorms and cooler-than-normal air could disrupt Memorial Day weekend plans across broad parts of the United States. The outlet said a high-pressure system off the East Coast was expected to pull Atlantic and Gulf moisture inland, raising the risk of widespread rain and storms over the holiday period. AAA said 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, setting a Memorial Day weekend record. (midstates.aaa.com) (weather.gov) Louisiana was among the places facing a stormier stretch first. The National Weather Service office in New Orleans and Baton Rouge said more numerous showers and storms were expected from Thursday through Saturday, with some storms capable of producing strong wind gusts and heavy downpours. NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center said a multi-day severe weather and flash-flood threat was continuing across parts of the central United States early this week. ### Where is the holiday weekend forecast looking most unsettled? (foxweather.com) Fox Weather said the greatest disruptions were likely to come from a broad zone of rain and thunderstorms affecting much of the South, East and parts of the interior over Memorial Day weekend. The outlet said the setup could interfere with beach trips, cookouts and road travel as moisture streams inland ahead of the holiday. The National Weather Service said on May 18 that severe storms were possible in the central Plains, while the Weather Prediction Center’s hazard guidance showed excessive-rain areas in the period leading into the week. (weather.gov) Those federal forecasts did not describe the full holiday weekend in one national bulletin, but they supported the broader picture of an active pattern in several regions. ### Why is Louisiana getting singled out this week? The New Orleans/Baton Rouge forecast office said later in the week would bring more numerous showers and storms each day from Thursday through Saturday. (foxweather.com) The office said some of those storms could produce strong wind gusts and heavy downpours, a combination that can disrupt outdoor events and local travel. Fox Weather said Louisiana would see a stormy stretch marked by thick humidity and frequent thunderstorms lasting into the Memorial Day period. (noaa.gov) That forecast aligned with the local National Weather Service office’s timing for repeated rounds of rain and storms late in the week. ### How many people could be traveling into this weather? AAA said 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day travel period from May 21 through May 25. (weather.gov) The group said 39.1 million are expected to travel by car and 3.66 million by air, both figures included in its 2026 holiday forecast. That timing matters because AAA’s travel window starts on Thursday, May 21, several days before Memorial Day itself on Monday, May 25. (foxweather.com) Weather disruptions that begin earlier in the week can affect departures before the holiday weekend is fully underway. ### What is driving the wet pattern forecasters described? Fox Weather said a high-pressure system anchored off the Eastern Seaboard was expected to funnel moisture from the Atlantic and Gulf into the United States ahead of the holiday weekend. (midstates.aaa.com) The outlet said that setup would support widespread rain and thunderstorms across a majority of the country. NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center said on May 17 that a multi-day severe weather and flash-flood threat was continuing across the Midwest and Plains. (midstates.aaa.com) Federal forecast products available on May 18 also showed excessive-rain areas in the near-term outlook, underscoring the risk of repeated rounds of precipitation in some regions. ### When will travelers get the next round of specifics? May 21 is the first day of AAA’s Memorial Day travel window, and local National Weather Service offices are expected to refine timing and storm risks each day before then. (foxweather.com) NOAA’s national forecast pages and local forecast offices, including New Orleans/Baton Rouge, were already posting updated outlooks on May 18. Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 25, and Fox Weather said it would continue tracking conditions through the weekend. (wpc.ncep.noaa.gov) Travelers and holiday planners can expect updated guidance from NOAA forecast offices and the Weather Prediction Center as the late-week storm pattern comes into clearer focus. (foxweather.com) (midstates.aaa.com)