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Anna Skinner

By Anna Skinner

Associate News Editor

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Meteorologists are forecasting thunderstorms and rain showers across a large stretch of states on Tuesday, and the poor weather could complicate in-person voting for four key battleground states during this year's crucial midterm elections.

There are several key Senate races unfolding that will determine control of Congress. Republicans are trying to fight off a blue wave to defend their narrow majority. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win control of the Senate and a net gain of three to seize control of the House. Voter turnout is imperative for the races, as several are quite competitive, and the difference of a few hundred votes could decide who wins on November 3.

Turnout has already been high for this year's midterm, with several states setting early voting records. The early voting began in Texas with a record 19 million registered voters eligible to cast ballots. Georgia also saw record-breaking statewide in-person early voting turnout, with more than 2 million votes. Several states have also reported high early turnout, with Alaska on track to meet or exceed its record from 2024.

Read More on U.S.

Millions more Americans have yet to cast their ballots and are planning to do so on Election Day Tuesday, but severe weather could complicate plans.

Map Shows Election Day Weather Across US

A U.S. weather forecast published earlier this week by AccuWeather revealed that storms and rain showers will stretch across the central U.S. on Election Day.

While rain is expected in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi, Michigan and New York, four of these states are home to highly competitive Senate races: Iowa, Texas, Michigan and Kansas.

A map created by Newsweek shows where rain is expected on Election Day.

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Election Day Forecast in Iowa

U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson, a Republican, and state Representative Josh Turek, a Democrat, are vying for the open U.S. Senate seat in Iowa. Recent polls have shown the candidates neck-and-neck.

Rain is likely across the entire state on Election Day, according to the AccuWeather forecast.

Election Day Forecast in Texas

In Texas, Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are battling for a U.S. Senate seat in a race that has become surprisingly competitive considering Texas’ Republican lean.

Thunderstorms are forecast across the eastern part of the state, and severe weather is possible in major cities such as Houston and Dallas.

"There is the risk for severe weather from the southern and central parts of the Plains late Monday to the middle and lower parts of the Mississippi Valley on Tuesday," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Joe Lundberg said in the report.

Election Day Forecast in Michigan

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are locked in a closely contested race for an open Senate seat in Michigan, with both parties pouring resources into a battleground state where recent polling has shown a tight contest.

Rain is expected across the entire state on Tuesday.

Election Day Forecast in Kansas

Republican Senator Roger Marshall is facing a surprisingly competitive race in Kansas against Democratic opponent Adam Hamilton, as polls have shown a tight contest. The competitiveness of the seat in this cycle is notable considering Kansas voters haven't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932, when Democrat George McGill was reelected.

Nearly all of Kansas is expecting some form of rain; showers or thunderstorms, the AccuWeather forecast showed. Thunderstorms will likely be confined to far eastern Kansas on Election Day, with much of the rest of the state expecting rain.

Last Day to Vote Early

Voters wanting to avoid poor weather on Election Day might want to consider voting early in the states expecting rain and storms on Tuesday.

The last day to vote early in Tennessee and Louisiana has already passed. For the other states expecting poor weather, the last day to vote early will be:

The date varies depending on location in North Dakota.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins

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