Past parades and rain delays: Fourth of July weather rewind

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Fourth of July, especially in Texas, is often thought about as an ideal summer day where friends and family can gather and enjoy a dip in the pool or a cookout on the grill. However, not every Fourth of July is sunshine and fireworks.

The KXAN First Warning Weather Team took a dive into some of the previous weather data from past Fourth of Julys here in Austin.

While warm and sunny weather are typical for the holiday, not every Fourth has been ideal for outdoor celebration due to not only precipitation, but also extreme temperatures.

Looking back through the weather record books, the average rainfall is 0.14" on the Fourth of July, but since 1998, there have been four holidays that have had more than a quarter inch of rainfall. The most rainfall on Independence Day since 1994 was back in 2018 with a total of 1.70" falling in the 24 hours.

High temperatures mostly remain in the 90s on the Fourth, but there have been seven days since 2005 with triple digit temperatures, with three quarters of those falling after 2020. The record for high temperatures on the holiday fell back in 2009 with a high of 104°. For reference, Heat Advisories are issued in Austin when the temperature is at or above 103°.

What's in store this Fourth of July?

This year, clear conditions are not a guarantee. Between the early morning hours of 5 and 9 — unfortunately, prime parade time — chances of showers across the area are at 30%. For the rest of the day, chances of rain remain between 10-20% with heavy cloud cover expected all throughout the day.

While chances of rain this Fourth are not 100%, if you are planning on having outdoor festivities, having a secondary plan may be a good idea. The good news is sweltering temperatures will not be a factor this holiday, with highs staying just below 90°.

For the latest information on weather conditions, be sure to download the KXAN Weather App.