US Labor Day weekend: heat and storms clash with record-high gas prices

Heat in the central states, rain in the Southeast

The United States is marking the Labor Day weekend, traditionally seen as the unofficial end of summer. According to weather.com, much of the central U.S. will see temperatures well above average, with the Southern Plains and parts of the Central Plains reaching triple digits above 38°C (100°F), while the rest of the Central and Northern Plains stay in the 90s (32-37°C). High humidity will make it feel even hotter, with heat indices in the triple digits possible across the Deep South, the Southern Plains, and as far north as Iowa. The Northwest, by contrast, will be cooler than usual, with highs only around 16-25°C (60s-70s F).

The Southeast could see a soggy holiday. A system moving through the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic on Saturday may bring scattered severe storms as it heads southeast, and Sunday looks to be the wettest day in that region, with showers and thunderstorms likely — potentially the worst day for outdoor plans there. Showers could linger along the Gulf Coast into Monday. The Rockies and Northern Plains may also see scattered afternoon thunderstorms throughout the weekend, while the Southwest faces monsoonal moisture fueling storms as well.

Conditions look especially unsettled in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, where News4JAX reports rain chances around 80%. Highs near 32°C (89°F) will feel closer to 39°C (102°F) due to humidity, with heat index values reaching up to 41°C (106°F) on Friday. Rainfall totals of roughly 6 to 25mm are expected through Friday night, with isolated inland totals of 76-100mm, raising the risk of localized flooding on roads and in low-lying areas. A high risk of rip currents also makes swimming along the Atlantic coast inadvisable outside lifeguarded areas.

Record-high fuel prices

Beyond the weather, American travelers face record gasoline prices this Labor Day. Per CBS News, citing AAA data, the national average for regular gasoline reached $4.15 a gallon on Friday, up 4 cents from a week earlier — the highest ever recorded for the holiday weekend, as gas has never before topped $4 a gallon on Labor Day. Diesel hit an all-time high of $5.85 a gallon, surpassing its previous record of $5.81 set in June 2022.

The surge is largely attributed to elevated crude oil prices amid the ongoing conflict around the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil supply passes. Brent crude traded around $95.55 a barrel and U.S. crude around $91.50 on Thursday. Since the start of the Iran conflict, higher fuel prices have cost American households an average of more than $741 each, according to a Brown University tracker. Rising diesel costs are also pushing up expenses for trucking, agriculture and construction, which analysts warn could add to broader consumer inflation.