As Thanksgiving approaches, travel plans are starting to take shape, and The Old Farmer’s Almanac now has a first look at what the weather could bring that week. Snow appears somewhere in six of the 18 regions on its new long-range map, but only one region is forecast to see it on Thursday, November 26, while rain looks more likely to affect Thanksgiving Day itself.
The map is based on predictions in the 2027 edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, with regional forecasts covering the days before and after the holiday. In several places, it directly contradicts the Farmers’ Almanac, a separate publication whose own Thanksgiving outlook is already out.
Where Could It Snow Thanksgiving Week?
The almanac’s Thanksgiving weather map lists snow as possible in six of its 18 regions during the week: the Northeast, the Atlantic Corridor, the Appalachians, the Lower Lakes, the Upper Midwest and Alaska.
Old Farmer’s Almanac
The Upper Midwest is the only region with snow forecast for Thanksgiving Day. Marquette, Green Bay, Duluth, Minneapolis and International Falls are forecast to see flurries and snow showers, with temperatures colder than normal.
The Lower Lakes look unsettled all week, with a chance of rain and snow from Syracuse and Buffalo through Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee. The almanac’s advice for the region is short.
“Give yourself plenty of time for holiday travel.”
In the Northeast, chilly days are expected both before and after Thanksgiving. There’s a chance of snow around the holiday, while Thanksgiving Day itself is forecast to bring rain and mild temperatures. The Atlantic Corridor is also forecast to see rain on Thanksgiving under mild conditions, and anyone staying through the weekend in the northern part of the region could see snow as temperatures cool.
Snow showers in the north and rain in the south are expected before the holiday in the Appalachians. Thanksgiving Day there is forecast to be sunny and warmer, with some snow returning to the north over the weekend.
In Alaska, the panhandle is expected to see rain showers and mild conditions, while the rest of the state could get snow showers and cold temperatures.
Who Gets the Rain?
The Pacific Northwest is the only region where the almanac mentions heavy rainfall, with periods of heavy rain expected in Seattle, Portland, Eugene and Eureka, although temperatures are forecast to remain mild.
Showers are also expected in the Southeast and Florida on Thanksgiving, both with warm or pleasant temperatures, before sunshine and cooler air arrive for the weekend. The Heartland is forecast to see rain and chilly conditions on Thanksgiving, with better weather on the days around it. Southern Texas and Hawaii both have a chance of showers.
Where Does It Look Warm?
After a colder-than-normal stretch with some rain and snow showers, the High Plains are forecast to have sunny skies and very warm temperatures throughout the holiday week, from Bismarck and Billings to Cheyenne and Denver.
The Desert Southwest, southern Intermountain region, Oklahoma and northern Texas also look sunny and warm. California is forecast to remain sunny, with cooler conditions in the north and warmer temperatures in the south. The Deep South is expected to have a sunny Thanksgiving, although temperatures will be cooler than during the preceding warm spell.
How Does It Compare With the Farmers’ Almanac?
The Farmers’ Almanac forecast, which covers Monday, November 23, through Thanksgiving Day, predicts cool and mostly dry conditions in the East, with sunshine along the I-95 cities. The Old Farmer’s Almanac, by contrast, forecasts rain across the Northeast and Atlantic Corridor on the holiday.
The Farmers’ Almanac calls for cold conditions and mountain snow in the Rockies and High Plains, while The Old Farmer’s Almanac expects sunshine and very warm temperatures. Both publications forecast rain in the Pacific Northwest and snow showers across the Upper Midwest.
Should You Plan Travel Around This?
Not yet. Thanksgiving is still well beyond the range of day-to-day forecasts, and The Old Farmer’s Almanac itself says conditions can change as the holiday gets closer.
NOAA’s own outlook for the month doesn’t share the almanac’s cold outlook for the north. The Climate Prediction Center’s November outlook, issued October 15, favours warmer-than-normal conditions across the northern two-thirds of the country, with the strongest odds of above-normal temperatures over the Northern Plains, the Upper Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes. It also favours wetter-than-normal conditions across much of the South and East Coast, with the odds reaching 60 to 70 percent in parts of the Southeast. For Montana and North Dakota, forecaster Johnna Infanti writes that “diving troughs may introduce cooler spells.” An updated November outlook is due October 31.
The Climate Prediction Center’s 8- to 14-day outlook will cover Thanksgiving Day in its November 12 issue. Daily National Weather Service forecasts will offer a more detailed picture closer to the holiday.
