The Memorial Day weekend kicked off with a multi-day thunderstorm and heavy rainfall system hitting the south-central part of the country, forecasters said.

Memorial Day stems from the aftermath of the Civil War, when Americans sought ways to honor the loss of life from that catastrophic war that resulted in the death of at least 2 percent of the population at the time, according to the website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

A close look at regional economies indicates that industries, including tourism and shipping, are plagued by uncertainty.