New Year's Eve Fireworks Outlook: Troublesome Viewing For Northern Tier

The end of 2024 is near and folks across the country are gearing up for a good old-fashioned firework show on New Year’s Eve. From soggy, breezy weather to flying snowflakes and an extreme chill, most of the Northern Tier will deal with some type of weather concern. This includes the biggest New Year’s Eve bash in New York City. 

A slow-moving low pressure system will drift into Northeast on New Year’s Eve. Precipitation will be widespread throughout the evening for the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and western portions of the Northeast. Most of these areas will just see rain, but it will be cold enough for wet snow or a rain/snow mix for the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest.  

The Ohio Valley and Appalachia into the Mid-Atlantic will see the best chance for rain throughout the night, while rain pushes into western parts of the Northeast by the time the clock strikes Midnight. The Great Lakes and Midwest will see rain and snow early in the evening, then rain/snow tapers off and could end by the time we ring in 2025. 

As if the rain and snow showers weren’t enough, cloudy to mostly cloudy skies will be in place across the Great Lakes and Midwest into most of the Eastern Seaboard, likely making it hard to view any fireworks. Breezy to strong winds could also prohibit fireworks shows to begin with.  

Temperatures will be steady in the 20s and 30s for the Great Lakes, Midwest, Ohio Valley, Appalachia, and New England. Make sure to dress in plenty of layers if you head out to places like Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland. For the Mid-Atlantic and areas closer to the coast in the Northeast, temperatures will likely drop from the 50s into the 40s, which would include Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. 

Across the north-central U.S., a cold front draped overhead will await the start of the new year. There could be a few flurries or light snow showers along this front from western Montana and Wyoming into the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Iowa. While there could be little to no snow accumulation, plenty of cloud cover could make it difficult to see fireworks.  

Bitter cold temperatures across the Mountain West and north-central U.S. will also force most people indoors. For the tallest peaks in the Rockies, temperatures will be dipping into single digits to below zero! Single digits and teens will be common for the rest of the Rockies and northern Plains. While winds will not be much of an issue, wind chill values will be dangerously cold for many areas. It is advised to stay in by a warm fireplace to watch the ball drop, and to not have any exposed skin if you do have to venture out! There will be 20s and a few lower 30s for the interior Northwest, Great Basin, and central Plains.  

Lastly, a new Pacific storm system will crawl into the Northwest as we close out 2024. Rain and mountain snow will become increasingly likely across western Washington and western Oregon. Thirties and lower 40s will occur here, though colder 20s are possible for the higher elevations. Warm coats will be needed to ring in the new year for places like Seattle and Portland, Ore. 

Sprawling high pressure will control the weather elsewhere, including California and the Southwest into the south-central and southeastern U.S. Expect dry weather and little cloud cover to enjoy any fireworks! Chilly temperatures will be found across most of California into the Southwest and southern Plains. Temperatures will drop into the 30s and 40s, though a few lower 50s cannot be ruled out for places like Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston. Temperatures will most likely dip into the upper 40s and 50s for the Deep South and most of the Southeast, while 60s are possible closer to the coast. Milder 60s and lower 70s welcome in 2025 across Florida. 

Be sure to stay tuned to the WeatherBug app, website, and social media for updates on how the weather will impact you on New Year’s Eve!