Voting in Aitkin, Columbia Heights, Faribault, Little Falls, Staples-Motley and Wayzata

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When it comes to weather, this could be one of the more tranquil elections days on record for the U.S. 

The medium-range weather maps suggest a mostly dry and mild weather pattern across the U.S. by next Tuesday. And mild dry weather could help boost voter turnout.

If you could pick one feature on the weather maps to gauge the weather, it’s the jet stream. The jet stream is a speedy river of air about 20,000 feet above us. The jet stream pushes storm systems along its path like a river pushes pieces of wood downstream.

To the north of the jet, it’s colder. To the south, milder weather dominates. 

Next week’s jet stream lifts north into Canada. That puts Minnesota and the U.S. on the milder side of the jet stream this weekend into next week.

Here on the ground it is expected people will be standing in long lines to vote next Tuesday. 

The early look ahead suggests a large high-pressure zone across the eastern half of the U.S. on November 3. 

This pattern would produce mostly sunny, dry, and mild weather across most of the nation. Other than some showers in the Pacific Northwest and in parts of Florida, little precipitation is expected across most of the country next Tuesday.

High temperatures next Tuesday are likely to range from the 50s north to 60s and 70s south across most of the country. Here’s NOAA’s GFS model temperature output for noon next Tuesday.

If the weather maps right now come close to being accurate next Tuesday, the weather looks close to ideal for Election Day.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Early weather maps suggest mild and dry weather for much of the U.S. next Tuesday.

People stand in a line outside a building

Steve Karnowski | AP

NOAA

Upper air forecast map for 6 pm November 3

Forecast surface weather features at noon Tuesday, November 3

NOAA via tropical tidbits

Forecast temperatures at noon central time Tuesday, November 3

Favorable weather likely for election day 2020 across the nation

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