WASHINGTON, DC -- The 4th of July is almost here. Now that we're just a day away, what's the forecast for D.C., and will the weather spoil your fireworks plans? We've put together a detailed breakdown below based on National Weather Service forecasts. 8 a.m.-12 p.m.: The morning will start out warm and incredibly muggy under partly cloudy skies. Temperatures likely will hit 80 degrees by 9 a.m. with humidity above 80 percent. Temperatures will reach the mid-80s by noon, and humidity should dip into the low 60s to the high 50s by then. 12 p.m.-3 p.m.: Humidity will remain relatively low compared to the last couple days, dipping to the low 50s by the early afternoon, and highs will only reach up to around 88 degrees or so, so it won't feel nearly as bad as it did Monday or Tuesday.<doc-sep>Share: As you may be getting ready to travel or spend some time outdoors to celebrate America turning 242 years old Wednesday, here’s a look at the 4th of July forecast around the nation. Hot temperatures will continue to engulf much of the eastern and central U.S. through Independence Day, especially in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic where warmer-than-normal temperatures and high humidity will make it feel close to or above 100 degrees in spots. Although much of the country will be dry most of the time through the Fourth of July, showers and thunderstorms will be scattered across the eastern U.S., especially the Great Lakes region, Ohio Valley and the Appalachians in association with a weak, slow-moving cold front. Showers and storms will also pepper the Rockies, the Plains and from southeast Texas across the Gulf Coast and into Florida. The best chance for thunderstorms across the north will be in the Upper Midwest as a cold front moves to the south and east across Minnesota into Wisconsin and near Lake Superior. A few storms could be strong and may affect fireworks celebrations. Otherwise it will be hot and humid with occasional clouds. In the south, a slow moving upper level low sweeping westward from the Atlantic Ocean will kick off scattered thunderstorms. There could be pockets of heavy rain, but storms will likely be hit-and-miss. Storms may linger into the evening, which could affect fireworks ceremonies. Fireworks weather looks good in the West, with only a few monsoonal storms in the afternoon and early evening. The weather will be sunny and dry in most areas. With drought conditions in some areas, the region will be prone for wildfires, so caution is advised with fireworks. Keep an eye out for these 4 hazards Beware of nature’s fireworks: lightning . In fact, July is the most lethal month for lightning – so, please remember: “When thunder roars, go indoors.” As always, use caution when barbequing outdoors, setting off fireworks or conducting any activities with open flames as they can become a fire hazard, especially in areas that are very dry and more prone to wildfires such as in parts of the western U.S. this week. Be sure to follow the advice of local officials regarding any restrictions for open flames. Among the various weather-related threats this time of year, there is at least one that we can rest easy about: Forecasters at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center say no tropical storm systems are expected to develop across the Atlantic Basin the next five days. Still, mariners and beachgoers should be mindful of thunderstorms that can produce high winds and lightning. Rip currents can also be a hidden danger to those entering the water, so it’s important to stay out of restricted areas of the beach, swim where there is a lifeguard and know how to survive a rip current if you get caught up in one. For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Mace Michaels<doc-sep>DETROIT – The 4th of July will be a hot one in the low 90s and still very muggy in southeastern Michigan. A slowly approaching cool front will spark a few rain and thundershowers in the afternoon and evening, lingering into early Thursday. With all of the gatherings, BBQs, and plans in place, we just want everyone to keep a watchful eye to the skies or to your Local4Casters App Radar as storms will be firing late in the day. It will be stormy for the first half of Thursday before much more pleasant air moves in for Friday and your weekend ahead.<doc-sep>NOAA has compiled a map of historic rain probabilities on Independence Day in cities and towns across the US, based on observations from 1981-2010. Real-time forecasts for this Fourth of July show similar predictions. The odds of seeing a downpour on the Fourth of July is higher in cities on the East Coast, especially in the southeast. If you live in California, Nevada, Oregon, or Arizona, the odds of rain this Fourth of July are as low as 10%. But living in Florida or Louisiana increases those chances to as high as 40%. That's according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which created an interactive map of historic rain probabilities on Independence Day in cities and towns across the US. The agency used observation data on every Fourth of July from 1981 to 2010. As seen in the map below, each region's odds of getting at least 0.1 inches of rain are displayed in shades of blue and green. The researchers chose 0.1 inches "because that’s plenty to drench your crepe paper float, make your hot dog buns soggy, or drown out your fireworks," they write. A map of historic rain probabilities for July 4, based on observations from 1981-2010. NOAA Southeast metros including New Orleans (32%); Naples, Florida (42%); Wewahitchka, Florida (40%); and Miami (29%) have fairly high rain probabilities, compared to the rest of the US. The same goes for some Northeast cities, like Laurel Summit outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (34%); Mount Washington, New Hampshire (42%); and Lake Placid, New York (31%). Cloudcroft, New Mexico — with a relatively high rain probability of 31% — is a bit of an outlier for the region. Percentages for the rest of the state range from 10% to about 22%. Overall, the eastern half of the nation has a higher chance of seeing rain than the West. The likelihood of rain on Independence Day in San Francisco, for example, is 1%. In Boise, Idaho, it's 4%. Even in a rainy city like Seattle, the odds are just 11%. The highest probability of rain on Independence Day for any US state is in Hawaii, where the eastern slopes have a 50% chance or more of precipitation that day. NOAA's National Weather Service is also compiling actual forecasts for Wednesday. As you can see in the map below, the real-time predictions (as of Tuesday afternoon) tell a similar story to the historic map. It is likely that coastal Louisiana, northern Minnesota, southeast Georgia, and parts of southeast Texas will expensive some rain this Fourth. Meanwhile, areas of Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and could see thunderstorms.<doc-sep>
Heat and humidity will be the main weather stories for much of the U.S. on the Fourth of July, though the upper Midwest and Gulf Coast will also contend with a few showers and thunderstorms. Steamy, very humid air is expected to remain in firm control from the Plains to the East, according to AccuWeather. A huge swath of the nation from the Rockies to the East Coast will see high temperatures in the 90s, weather.com predicts. Highs along the West Coast and into the Northwest will range from the 60s to the 80s, with 90s farther inland and 100s in the Desert Southwest. Clear skies will make for great fireworks viewing for the western third of the country. Other than the heat, the worst weather on Independence Day could be in the north-central U.S., where some thunderstorms could pop up. Severe storms, accompanied by damaging winds and large hail, will be possible across the upper Midwest into Wednesday night, the Storm Prediction Center warned. Most of Minnesota, including Minneapolis/St. Paul, and western portions of Wisconsin are at the greatest risk for severe storms. Across the Gulf Coast and parts of the Southeast, thunderstorms should be less numerous during the evening than the afternoon, AccuWeather said. However, some communities may have to contend with lingering showers and thunderstorms that disrupt fireworks displays. Elsewhere, most of the widely separated thunderstorms that dot the Great Lakes and Northeast during the day from a fizzling cold front should dissipate before evening fireworks. Warmth and humidity will remain, however, creating sticky conditions. Though not in time for the Fourth, some cooler, less humid air is finally predicted to slide into the central and northeastern U.S. by the end of the week, ending the current heat wave. The West, however, will start to heat up.