‘Warm, humid and sticky.’ Will weather impact Fourth of July festivities in Centre County?

Although some rain showers and thunderstorms are in the weather forecast for State College for Monday afternoon and evening, dryer weather should be around by the time fireworks are set off Tuesday evening.

Alyson Hoegg, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, said as of Monday afternoon, some showers and thunderstorms have popped up across the western part of the state and are moving into Centre County.

Although they won’t be widespread, she expected some showers and thunderstorms to be around until the early hours of Monday evening, she said, probably through 10 or 11 p.m.

“Those storms could produce some locally heavy rainfall. So that would be our biggest concern here as we go through the evening hours (Monday night). Once we get past that, it will largely dry out here later on (Monday night),” Hoegg said, noting that anyone planning to be out and about Monday evening should have an umbrella handy if possible.

As far as the Fourth of July holiday, the weather looks a little drier during the day, she said. The best chance for any storm activity Tuesday will be to be east of Centre County, anywhere from the Susquehanna Valley through portions of eastern Pennsylvania.

A spotty shower or thunderstorm in State College Tuesday afternoon isn’t ruled out, but the chances are smaller compared to Monday, she said.

“If there’s anything around, it could be brief, heavy downpour during the afternoon (Tuesday). Storms will be pretty quick moving so if anyone’s out and about at any of the festivities or picnics outside, it would just be a brief downpour and then the storm should move out pretty quickly,” Hoegg said.

Those looking forward to ending Independence Day with a fireworks display are in luck: Hoegg said dryer weather is expected.

“Even though it’s still going to be very warm and humid through the day (Tuesday) and into (Tuesday) night, the threat for any precipitation should come to an end by the time fireworks get underway Tuesday night,” she said.

She continued: “The one thing to keep in mind with (Tuesday), temps are going to be in the low 80s … but it is going to be quite humid so the real feel temperatures are going to be in the middle and upper 80s, maybe approaching 90 during the middle of the afternoon tomorrow. So folks should definitely stay hydrated throughout the day because it is going to be very warm, humid and sticky outside.”