Posted on 11/02/2018 11:22:57 AM PDT by TigerClaws
Voter turnout for Tuesday’s midterm elections may be affected as a potent storm unleashes rain, strong winds and potentially violent thunderstorms from the midwestern to southern United States.
According to research, weather influences some voters' response when making a decision to head to the polls.
"Weather was found to be, on average, nearly 20 percent of the change in voter turnout based on our analysis," according to AccuWeather Data Scientist and Meteorologist Tim Loftus.
"Democrats are more weather sensitive, when compared to Republicans, and among the most weather-sensitive were African-Americans, those 65 and older and 18- to 24-year-olds," he said.
Below is a breakdown of the weather expected on Election Day for the states with key races. Several of these states are in the path of the impending strong autumn storm:
Maine
Election Day can be cloudy and dreary with occasional rain and drizzle, meaning those headed to the polls will want to keep an umbrella handy. The steadiest rain may fall during the morning, but drizzle can persist through the afternoon and early evening.
Temperatures will slowly climb from the 30s F in the morning to the 40s and lower 50s.
New York
"Generally, the warmer the low temperature, the more New Yorkers tend to go out to vote," Loftus said. “New Yorkers are most deterred during windy conditions, especially when rain is present.”
Early morning temperatures are expected to be above normal throughout the state on Tuesday, but the storm may sweep rain and increasingly windy conditions into western areas.
West Virginia
Election Day can be breezy and mild with gusty showers and thunderstorms set to cross the state. Latest indications point toward the afternoon and early evening being the stormiest times of the day.
"Cloudy conditions and windy weather deter voters in West Virginia, especially voters aged 25 to 44," according to Loftus. "However, Democrats are less impacted by wind than Republicans and tend to fair better with higher sustained wind speeds."
Tennessee
"Cool and damp weather causes voters to stay inside, but if temperatures are comfortable, rain won’t bother them all too much," said Loftus. "Unless it is severe, in which notifications/headlines may cause voters to either vote early or after the storms clear.”
There is a risk for a line of heavy and gusty thunderstorms to cross Tennessee on Tuesday, and AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring the potential for damaging winds to be produced.
Florida
Loftus found that most Floridians enjoy voting amid warm weather, but turnout tends to be lower on warm and muggy Election Days—the type of weather that is expected this coming Tuesday.
Showers and thunderstorms may sweep through the panhandle, creating lightning dangers for anyone waiting outside to vote or walking to polling stations.
Mississippi
Gusty showers and thunderstorms will track across eastern and southern Mississippi on Tuesday but may pose more of a concern to those voting earlier in the day. The storminess may depart the state by the final hours of voting.
Regardless of when the showers and thunderstorms are expected, Loftus found that rain does not affect Democrats.
Texas
"Texas voters are more influenced by temperature than rainfall," according to Loftus. "Texan Democrats fair better in cooler weather as opposed to warm conditions."
As dry weather dominates Texas, northern areas will be cooler than normal with highs mostly in the 60s. Highs will range from near 80 in San Antonio and Houston, which is not far from normal, to around 90 in deep South Texas.
Pittsburgh will get drenched all day Tuesday..
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Sorry - I’m backing President Trump.
Only Stubborn Ward and Arpaio voters who are protesting by not voting for McSally. They prefer to send a message, if Sinema wins I hope they suffer the worst.
I think Noah was up against more than rain.
I’d love to know what “all the fountains of the great deep” is actually describing.
Melting ice from Global Warming.
Al Gore’s Great Grandfather 2000 times removed was complaiing about extinct mammoths.
:)
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