Hold on to your umbrellas … and tune up your AC! Summer is coming early this year, and it may bring the hottest temperatures in recorded history! Here is the Farmers’ Almanac Summer Weather Forecast 2024, including wet weather planting suggestions, regional forecasts for Father’s Day, Fourth of July, and Canada Day. Plus, two late-season hurricane warnings you need to see!
When Does Summer Start?
Summer officially arrives in North America with the summer solstice on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 4:51 pm EDT—the earliest start in 128 years!
Many people love summer as it beckons us to the great outdoors—to fish, garden, swim, camp, barbecue—but for others, summer’s heat is a reason to stay inside and long for fall days.
Summer Weather Forecast
Summer’s weather will announce its arrival with a glorious nearly-full Strawberry Moon and some thunderstorms in the central part of the US. June will end up warm, humid, and thundery in many, if not most, areas of the country. (See your region’s forecast.)
Related: Full Moon Calendar
How Hot and Wet?
The Farmers’ Almanac Summer Weather Forecast 2024 calls for a warm, hot, and muggy summer for most of the nation, except for the Northwest region where more seasonable summer temperatures are expected. The muggy temperatures are predicted bring a plethora of moisture and thunderstorms to most areas east of the Mississippi River.
New England is on track to have yet another wet summer, and thunderstorms will be plentiful in the Great Lakes and Midwest region of the country.
The Southeast states and Mid-Atlantic region won’t escape from summer’s soaking showers and steamy days.
Texas will see sizzling temperatures, with a stormier July than August.
Areas in the North Central region are predicted to see a seesaw of summer temperatures with an overall warm season, but with occasional cold Canadian air blowing in.
The Southwest will see hot, dry conditions for most of the summer.
The Pacific Northwest will also be dry, but temperatures won’t be as extreme.
Father’s Day Weather Forecast 2024
Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Here’s our weather forecast for that special day:
Fourth Of July Weather Forecast 2024
Independence Day falls on a Thursday this year. Fortunately for festivities on the Fourth, most areas may have fair skies! Additionally, this time of the summer will be ideal for stargazing due the New Moon—learn why! Here is what we are predicting for the weather from July 4-7, 2024:
Related: Monthly Stargazing Night Sky Guides
How About August And September?
According to the Farmers’ Almanac Summer Forecast 2024, August looks to be especially wet and showery across the eastern two-thirds of the country. Gardeners in New England who saw a soggy summer season last year may want to plan “rain gardens” this year with plants that love a lot of water, such as: marigolds, forget-me-nots, canna lilies, day lilies, irises, and hibiscus.
Related: Gardening By The Moon Calendar
Also bear in mind that lots of rain usually increases certain bug populations. Consider planting herbs that deter mosquitos, such as: lemon thyme and lemon balm!
Want to see the weather for Labor Day weekend 2024? See our Long Range Weather Forecast now!
Related: No White After Labor Day? But Why?
A Look Back at Summer 2023
Remember when we said Summer 2023 may be the hottest summer this century? Well, we were right! Summer of 2023 was Earth’s hottest since global records began in 1880, according to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says there is a one-in-three chance that 2024 will be warmer than 2023, and a 99% chance it would rank among the five warmest on record!
How About Hurricanes?
Hurricanes are Mother Earth’s way of “letting off steam” so to speak. By mid and late summer over the tropics, a tremendous amount of heat has built up in both the oceans and surrounding atmosphere. Nature needs a way to release all of the energy that has built up because of this surplus of heat—and does so effectively by generating hurricanes. Unfortunately, these powerful storms will sometimes take tracks that cause them to move onshore, where people live, causing mass destruction.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, but it is obvious that the most likely time for hurricanes to develop is when the greatest amount of heat has built up over the tropics, namely from mid-August to mid-October. That’s when nature “lets loose” with the greatest probability for tropical cyclones.
Our summer forecast calls for two hurricanes at the end of summer. One hurricane may form along the Gulf Coast toward the end of August, and another is expected along the Atlantic Seaboard in mid-September.
Over the past 10 years, the United States has been hit by hurricanes an average of twice a year. Seven made landfall in 2020, but none did in 2013 and 2015.
Related: Hurricane Names for 2024-2025
What’s Next?
Stay tuned for the fall and winter outlooks, or sign up for a membership today and get instant access to 12 months of our weather predictions.
Canada’s Summer Weather Forecast 2024: Rainy Relief
Summer begins earlier than it has in more than one hundred years—on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 4:51 pm EDT. But who is to say that warm weather will wait until then to arrive! Here is what the Farmers’ Almanac predicts for Canada’s Summer Forecast
Wet & Stormy
The Farmers’ Almanac Summer Weather Forecast calls for Canada’s eastern provinces to see lots of rain during the summer months.
Temperatures will be warm and humid in most areas, reminding Canadians of last year’s summer weather.
Muggy, warm temperatures are predicted to be the norm in the eastern portions of the country, exception in Newfoundland and Labrador. These provinces are predicted to see a cloudy summer with many cool onshore breezes that will bring blow in a cooler than usual summer season.
The Prairies will experience sizzling hot temperatures, with the heat occasionally tempered by a shower or gusty thunderstorm.
British Columbia will be drier than normal and will see temperatures close to normal.
Canada Day Forecast 2024
Canada Day is Monday, July 1. Forecasts look fair in Ontario and westward, though showers may dampen outdoor activities in the east. Here is what we are predicting for July 1-3, 2024:
Summer soakers will make August an especially wet and showery across the eastern two-thirds of the country.
A shot of widespread, unseasonably chilly weather is expected by Labour Day in the East; while unsettled conditions are expected for the West.
Want to see other specific dates in our Summer Weather Forecast 2024, including Father’s Day in Canada? See our Extended Weather Forecast now!
Tropical Cyclones
Over the past ten years Atlantic Canada has been hit by only one hurricane (“Larry” in 2021 in Newfoundland). However, there were seven other “extratropical” cyclones—storms that had lost their tropical characteristics as they passed over colder waters—that adversely impacted parts of the Maritimes. The two most noteworthy were “Arthur” in 2014, which brought down countless trees and power lines across the region, leaving more than 300,000 without electricity. Damage to the power grid in Nova Scotia was regarded as the worst since Hurricane Juan in 2003. The other was “Fiona” in 2022, which made landfall over Nova Scotia with hurricane-force wind gusts of 160 km/hr.
For 2024 we believe we are forecasting a hurricane threat between September 16-24 for Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and the traditional peak of the season is September 10. The threat of tropical cyclones tends to ramp up quickly after mid-August and tends to rapidly decline after mid-October.
A Final Thought: Recap
Summer 2024 is shaping up to be a wild one in the United States, with lots of storms and rain expected in the east, and dry weather in the west. Holidays like Father’s Day and the Fourth of July might have some rain, especially in the Southeast, but other places should have clear skies. August will bring even more rain, especially in the eastern parts, so it might be a good time to think about plants that like wet weather. The Southwest and middle southern states, though, should get ready for really hot weather, and Texas will be especially hot. We also need to watch out for hurricanes, which could hit the Gulf Coast and the East Coast, so people living there should be ready for hurricane season.
In Canada, the heat might be broken up by rainfall, mainly in the eastern areas, while the central regions can expect a lot of heat and some storms. British Columbia should be drier than usual. As we deal with summer weather in both countries, it’s super important to stay updated, prepared, and ready to change plans. Whether you’re putting together a garden that can handle the rain, getting supplies for hurricanes, or just enjoying the warm weather, let’s make the most of summer while being careful because the weather can be unpredictable.
Join The Discussion
What do you think of our Summer Forecast 2024?
Are you excited for some rain relief or how do you feel?
What kinds of plants will you be growing this year?
Share with your community here in the comments below!
I wish we could get more of an update for the foothills of northern CA. When will it cool off? Today 8/10, it’s only 95 degrees, yay. We have had what I think is a recording-breaking heat wave of 40+ days over 100 degrees. I’m not too fond of it and tell family and friends I will see them in October.
I don’t know about others but my area (SD) did not have the hottest summer last year. We’ve had many summers during the late 1950’s and all through the 1960’s that were much hotter than last summer. This year is particularly dry, even though we get rain almost nightly. It’s just crazy. Trees are growing like mad but the lawns are dying off. I never water unless there is a fire threat in the area because it’s a pure waste of water and money.
I was located in the far northcentral part of the state at the time I was growing up (that land is so flat you can see into next week from our barn) but down here in the beautiful black hills we did NOT experience that mess. I can see why the Native tribes wanted to keep this land from the white people (I hope it’s not racist to say white! I don’t believe in all that garbage anyway, it’s stupid) it wasn’t ONLY for the gold in the area, although there was lots of it.
We still pan just to goof around sometimes and fine a bit here and there, but nothing like what the 1880’s brought. It’s a great vacation spot and you simply would NOT believe the number of families who have moved into this area (and the surrounding 100 miles in any direction) from California. I have quite a few relatives in SCA who simply refuse to move back here and that’s their choice but while their state burns, my state has to put up with the smoke from their fire, the fire in Idaho and the fires in Canada. Happens every damned year. Keeps people my age pretty well housebound.
The 82nd annual Sturgis Motorcycle rally is in full swing right now and there are motorcycles everywhere, day and night they roar past my home.
Northern and central Alaska: 1a to 2b
Coastal regions: 2b to 4a
Southeast Alaska: 4a to 7b
I won’t stay indoors during August if it rains or storms off-and-on then.
Any weather info about Alaska for the 2024 summer? Also, what zone would Alaska be classified as?
What about Alaska?
How can FA lump ‘Ontario’ into one weather category? The province is as diverse in weather as NY compared to FL.
(How big is Ontario? (Sorry Texas…Ontario is 1.55 times bigger) You can drive faster from southern Ontario to Florida than southern Ontario to Red Lake (Ontario’s most northern stop light)…and you still have a huge part of the province to the north accessible mostly by float planes or logging roads!
I live in Arizona 40 miles north of downtown Phoenix. Dread summer. 😿
After living in Arizona for a decade – I agree that Phoenix is another kind of hot!
we live in a heat bubble in oklahoma,,everything goes around us,,up north and south..