Top 5 Beaches With Great Labor Day Weather

Check out our list of hurricane-free beaches for Labor Day.

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Hurricane season is in full swing, and thoughts of high winds and torrential downpours may have you reconsidering your Labor Day weekend plans. We checked in with the meteorologists at weathertrends360 — experts in long-term forecasting — to get the outlook for the holiday. To be fairly sure that a storm won’t ruin your vacation, pack up the car and head to one of these beaches, all of which have a low risk for a strong summer storm over the long weekend.

1. Outer Banks, North Carolina

high view point of beach with pier on the right and houses on the left during the daytime

Photo by: James Willamor via Flickr Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0

James Willamor via Flickr Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0

With El Niño suppressing hurricane activity in the Atlantic this year, holiday beachgoers can be more confident in planning their final vacation of the summer to any of the East Coast beaches. The Outer Banks land at the top of our list because of a drier-than-normal forecast for the Labor Day weekend (Friday-Monday) and near-normal temperatures.

2. Virginia Beach, Virginia

busy scene on a beach with tourists and buildings on the left during the daytime

Photo by: By gargola87 [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

By gargola87 [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Most East Coast beaches should be a safe bet for the Labor Day weekend, thanks to El Niño. Virginia Beach gets bonus points for a temperature forecast that’s slightly above normal.

3. South Padre Island, Texas

people sitting on beach chairs with umbrellas on the beach with hotels in the background on the left during the daytime

Photo by: Brandon L via Flickr Creative Commons BY-NC 2.0

Brandon L via Flickr Creative Commons BY-NC 2.0

There will be no shortage of hot weather in this southern Texas vacation destination. Again, the presence of El Niño will decrease the chances of a pesky tropical system ruining vacation plans.

4. Daytona Beach, Florida

view of beach with people, ocean, and amusement park rides, ferris wheel

Photo by: sdobie via Flickr Creative Commons 2.0 BY-NC 2.0

sdobie via Flickr Creative Commons 2.0 BY-NC 2.0

Not to sound like a broken record, but El Niño once again plays a big role on our list as we’re brave enough to throw in a Florida location, even though we are nearing the climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season! Daytona was picked over some of its counterparts because of a drier precipitation forecast; however, most Florida beaches shouldn’t be bad for the Labor Day weekend. We’re not ruling out the occasional shower or thunderstorm (this is, after all, Florida in summer), but a total washout is not expected.

5. Chicago

two people walking down sidewalk with lake on the left and tall buildings on the right and background, daytime

Photo by: Patrick Beeson via Flickr Creative Commons BY-NC 2.0

Patrick Beeson via Flickr Creative Commons BY-NC 2.0

It’s perhaps an unexpected location on the list, but don’t forget that Lake Michigan provides some beachfront for Chi-Town. The Labor Day weekend is forecast to be warmer than normal and somewhat drier than normal, meaning there should be plenty of opportunity to soak up the last bit of summer sun.