Thunderstorms are possible in parts of the United States

From wet to windy to record heat: Voters across the US will be heading to the polls on Tuesday.

The worst weather for voters will be in the southern United States, where a widespread storm promises to bring a mix of rain and wind, particularly in the Deep South.

“Those lining up outside Tuesday waiting to vote must be prepared for the threat of lightning and heavy rain that could extend from parts of Louisiana and Arkansas northeast into the middle Mississippi River Valley and Lower Ohio Valley.” AccuWeather meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.

Further north, thunderstorms are unlikely, but a cool, rainy day is forecast for swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan.

Elsewhere, warm weather will greet East Coast voters. Temperatures will rise into the 70s as far north as Washington, DC. Most of the West Coast will also be dry on Tuesday, forecasters said, with the exception of a few rain and snow showers in the northwest.

Heavy rain possible

A region from Houston to Indianapolis could be drenched Tuesday, AccuWeather meteorologists predict.

The same weather pattern that brought strong winds and rain on Monday is expected to move further east on Tuesday, shifting “the heavy rain and severe weather threats” to a region around Arkansas, Missouri and Louisiana, according to the National Weather Service . This is expected to happen after the storm system brought rainfall to Oklahoma, which was under flood watches on Monday.

The eastern United States is expected to be warm and dry on Election Day, while the northeast, including New York City, will remain without rain for a long time.

Forecasters say there could be showers on Election Day in parts of the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Across the northwestern United States, voters waiting in long lines outside should prepare to brace themselves against frigid temperatures and perhaps even snow, meteorologists said this weekend.

Does rain affect voter turnout?

While weather is not typically considered a major factor in voting behavior, some research has found that stormy weather “makes voting on Election Day in the U.S. more difficult, particularly among young adults, people who do not vote regularly, and voters who are prone to do so. “ “Support the Democrats,” says a recent report from Journalist’s Resource.

Bill Kirk, CEO of Weathertrends360, also recently told USA TODAY that rain on Election Day could deter voters from going to the polls. He said several academic journals reported that for every inch of rain on Election Day, voter turnout fell by 2.5%, regardless of party affiliation.

Will it rain on election day?

Rain is forecast Tuesday for a broad region of the central United States, including all of Louisiana, east Texas and western Arkansas, according to AccuWeather.

According to AccuWeather, the heaviest downpours are expected to fall in the area where northeast Oklahoma meets southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri, bringing up to 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters) of rain.

The Election Day storms will follow wet weather in several states across the central U.S. that will peak Monday evening, including Oklahoma, Missouri and Iowa, forecasters said.

Rain on Election Day in Wisconsin, Michigan

Wisconsin and Michigan expect rain on Election Day. They are two of seven swing states with close polls between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said rain is expected in Wisconsin mostly in the morning and will dry out later in the day, but Michigan could see rain at any time of day.

Additionally, voters in northern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota would have a better chance of staying dry if they go to the polls later in the day after early rain subsides, Pastelok said.

Oklahoma under flood watch

On Monday, nearly the entire state of Oklahoma was under a flood watch, the National Weather Service said.

Rivers flooded southeast of Oklahoma City Monday, the weather service reported. “All types of severe weather,” including damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes, are possible across eastern Oklahoma Monday afternoon and into the evening, forecasters said.

As of Monday morning, 4 to 8 inches of rain had already fallen in northern Arkansas, where a flash flood watch was in effect, the weather service said.

Contributor: Jeannine Santucci

Heavy rain possible

Does rain affect voter turnout?

Will it rain on election day?

Rain on Election Day in Wisconsin, Michigan

Oklahoma under flood watch

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