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Traveling in honor of Labor Day: Will extreme weather affect U.S. travel this weekend?
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Traveling in honor of Labor Day: Will extreme weather affect U.S. travel this weekend?

NEW YORK – Well, that happened fast. The unofficial end of summer is just days away, and millions of people across the U.S. are preparing to pack up and leave town this Labor Day holiday weekend. But will extreme weather put the brakes on those end-of-season travel plans?

The numbers are in and data from AAA shows there is an increase in domestic travel over Labor Day weekend.

Who can best enjoy a stress-free beach vacation and who can best prepare an alternative travel plan, just in case?

FOX Weather is here to help.

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This chart shows the travel outlook for Labor Day.
(FOX Weather)

Overall, the weather forecast for the Labor Day holiday weekend looks okay for now. That could change as we wrap up the workweek and prepare for the long weekend.

Warm and dry conditions can be expected in the western US, while cool and dry conditions are expected in parts of the Midwest, the Great Lakes region, and even parts of the Northeast.

Problems could occur in the southern US, from Texas to the Southeast, and also along the Interstate 95 corridor on the East Coast to New England.

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Labor Day Weekend Weather: Saturday Forecast

This graph shows the weather forecast for the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
(FOX Weather)

Temperatures will be pleasant in many major U.S. cities this weekend, a welcome change from the extreme late-summer heat and humidity that brought powerful thunderstorms to the Midwest on Monday and the Great Lakes region on Tuesday.

Temperatures in the West, including Seattle and Los Angeles, are expected to remain around 80 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, while cities like Denver and Atlanta could reach temperatures around 90 degrees.

Plenty of sunshine is also expected in the US, but the chance of precipitation and severe weather could delay travel from Texas and Louisiana through the Mississippi and Ohio valleys, and also parts of the northeastern US.

If you’re one of the millions of people who take to the road, you want to keep your speed low on wet roads.

And if you’re traveling to major airports in those areas, like Houston and Miami, rain and possible thunderstorms could lead to flight delays or cancellations.

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Labor Day Weekend Weather: Sunday Forecast

This graph shows the weather forecast for the Labor Day weekend on Sunday, September 1, 2024.
(FOX Weather)

More traffic problems could develop in the Southwest, Northeast and New England on Sunday, but the FOX Forecast Center does not expect major storm systems to impact those regions.

Either way, airports from the Midwest to the Northeast could experience sudden showers and thunderstorms, which could lead to further problems.

And remember that even if you’re at an airport where the skies are clear and the temperatures are warm, extreme weather conditions hundreds of miles away can still affect your travel plans.

β€œThe crazy thing about Atlanta is that the airport is so big that if there are delays, it impacts almost the entire country, especially the East Coast,” said Ari Sarsalari, a meteorologist with FOX Weather.

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Labor Day Weekend Weather: Monday Forecast

This graph shows the weather forecast for the Labor Day weekend on Monday, September 2, 2024.
(FOX Weather)

And what about the dreaded trip back home to reality? There will be more chances for delays on the road and in the air thanks to additional rain and thunderstorms affecting parts of the Southwest, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Rain can have an impact on Florida beaches. If you live in the Northeast and are heading to a local lake or pond for a swim, bring an umbrella in case you get a shower or two.