Rain and thunderstorms are forecast in parts of the central United States and Florida on Tuesday, while the East and West coasts are expected to remain clear and comfortable. With millions of people already having voted, experts say the weather is unlikely to determine the outcome of competitive races, though research suggests it can have a modest effect on turnout.
Jennifer Tate, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, described the day overall as likely to be tranquil, with the main exceptions in the central U.S. and Florida. Thunderstorms are possible from Iowa to Texas, alongside pockets of heavy rain that could cause minor flash flooding.
In Florida, rain is expected to continue in some areas, but Tate said it should be lighter than the downpours the state experienced on Sunday and Monday. In Texas, storms in the east could be severe in the early morning before clearing by early afternoon.
Mississippi could see severe thunderstorms and heavy rain, particularly in the north, with a risk of tornadoes and strong winds. The storms are expected to move through in a line and be relatively short-lived. Kansas may get rain early in the day, followed by clearing skies.
In Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, lighter rain and showers could persist for much of the day. Researchers’ analyses of voting and weather data have found that weather can influence turnout slightly, although the forecast alone does not indicate how it will affect election results.
Sources: The New York Times Politics.