Memorial Day weekend weather: wet East, dry West, and some surprises

Memorial Day weekend is shaping up to be a weather rollercoaster across the U. S. While the West enjoys mostly sunny skies and rising temperatures, the East braces for a soggy holiday with showers, storms, and even flash floods. A slow-moving weather front is the main culprit, pulling in moisture and sparking repeated rounds of thunderstorms from the Southeast all the way up to the Northeast. Over 10 million people—stretching from Texas to Minnesota—face a chance of severe storms, with heavy rain expected in parts of Louisiana, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.Meanwhile, the Southwest is heating up fast, with desert areas in California, Arizona, and Nevada pushing past 100°F early in the week. The Pacific Northwest might not escape the wet trend entirely, as light rain and even snow in the Cascades’ high elevations could dampen outdoor plans. But the bigger story might be the worsening drought gripping nearly half the country. Recent data shows severe drought areas have doubled in just three months, hitting a 12-year peak. For the parched South, the weekend’s storms could help—but only if the rain comes gently. Too much water too soon can be just as harmful as none at all. Texas and Mississippi already saw flash flooding over the past few days, with some areas getting over seven inches of rain in 72 hours. Authorities warn that torrential downpours paired with lightning could do more damage than good. And in Maine, swimmers face a different kind of risk: dangerously cold waters in the 50s, cold enough to cause shock or hypothermia if someone falls in.