Storm expected to hit central US on Election Day as key midterm elections hang in the balance

A storm heading toward the central United States on Election Day could affect voter turnout in the region’s key elections.

The beginnings of our storm are just off the West Coast and will move across the United States Saturday evening. It will draw copious moisture from the tropical Pacific, creating a serious flooding threat in the Southwest this weekend before bringing soggy weather to the central states for Election Day.

Heavy rain is expected to fall Sunday through Monday in the Four Corners states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado and could cause serious consequences. flash floods, before the system reaches the central United States on Election Day.

Soggy weather is likely Tuesday over a wide area, stretching from the Great Plains and upper Midwest to the Lower Mississippi Valley and the western Gulf Coast. Stormy conditions are possible for key races in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan and Texas.

The threat of heavy rain on Tuesday is currently low, but voters heading to the polls may encounter stagnation on the roads.

Thunderstorms are expected on the southern side of the storm, some of which could intensify and become severe from eastern Texas to Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Windy conditions are also likely across much of the affected states, particularly in the plains. Kansas could see wind gusts between 30 and 40 mph, up to 50 mph in Nebraska.

Weather conditions could take into account voter turnout in these and other central U.S. states who are not part of the more than 49 million people who have already voted in advance.

According to several studies, precipitation and other active weather conditions tend to reduce voter turnout, while sunshine has the opposite effect.

Dry weather will likely sandwich the storm across much of the East Coast and West. The only exception is the coastal areas of southeastern and northern California, where untimely showers cannot yet be completely ruled out.

However, throughout the country, there will be no need to bundle up to go vote. High temperatures across most of the eastern half of the country are expected to be 5 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit above average. Only parts of the southwest will experience temperatures a little colder than average.

The breakdown below shows forecasts for some of the key states over the medium term. Keep in mind that these forecasts will likely change as confidence increases in the storm’s track this weekend.