From humidity to wind to record heat: an electoral spectrum of elements facing voters across the United States heading to the polls on Tuesday.

The worst weather for voters will be in the south-central United States, where a sprawling storm promises to bring a mix of rain and wind, especially to the Deep South.

“Those lining up outside and waiting to vote Tuesday will need to prepare for the threat of lightning and heavy downpours, which could extend from parts of Louisiana and Arkansas to the Northeast to the middle Mississippi River Valley and lower Ohio Valley,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said. said.

Thunderstorms are unlikely to occur further north, but a cold and rainy day is expected in key states such as Wisconsin and Michigan.

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

Torrential rain possible

An area stretching from Houston to Indianapolis could be flooded Tuesday, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. predict.

The same weather phenomenon, bringing strong winds and rain Monday, is expected to head east Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, “shifting heavy rain and severe weather threats” to a region centered around Arkansas , Missouri and Louisiana. That’s expected to happen after the storm system brought downpours to Oklahoma, which was covered in flood watches Monday.

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The eastern United States is expected to be hot and dry on Election Day, continuing a long rainless period in the Northeast, including New York.

Parts of the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, could see showers on Election Day, forecasters say. In the northwest United States, voters waiting in line outside should prepare for cold and possibly even snow. meteorologists said this weekend.

Does rain affect voter turnout?

Although weather is not generally considered a major factor in voting patterns, some research has shown that stormy weather “discourages voting on Election Day in the United States, particularly among young adults, people who do not vote regularly and voters who tend to vote. support the Democrats”, a recent report in the journalist’s resource said.

Weather Trends360 CEO Bill Kirk also recently told USA TODAY that rain on Election Day can deter voters from going to the polls. He said several academic journals report that for every inch of rain on Election Day, there is a 2.5 percent decrease in voter turnout, regardless of party affiliation.

Will it rain on election day?

Rain is forecast Tuesday for a wide region of the central United States that includes all of Louisiana, eastern Texas and western Arkansas, AccuWeather reported.

The heaviest showers are expected to fall in the area where northeastern Oklahoma meets southeastern Kansas and southwest Missouri, according to AccuWeather. bringing up to 8 to 12 inches of rain.

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

Rain on Election Day in Wisconsin, Michigan

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

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Paul Pastelok said the rain in Wisconsin was waited especially in the morning and will dry later today, but Michigan could see rain any time today.

Additionally, voters in northern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota will be more likely to stay dry if they go to the polls later in the day, after the first rains have passed, Pastelok said.

Oklahoma under flood watch

Nearly the entire state of Oklahoma was covered by flood watches Monday, the National Weather Service said.

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

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

Contributor: Jeannine Santucci

This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Election Day Weather Forecast: Thunderstorms possible in parts of the United States