There's a whole lot of planning that goes into Thanksgiving. From coming up with the ultimate Thanksgiving shopping list and deciding on Thanksgiving activities to mapping out travel routes, you have much to figure out before the big feast. But there's also something that could throw a wrench into any of those plans: the weather!
No matter if you're gearing up for a big game of backyard football or setting out on a cross-country trip to grandma’s house, you need to know what Mother Nature might have up her sleeve for Thanksgiving 2024. Will it be a cozy sweater-weather kind of holiday, or should you brace yourself for snow and storms?
Well, the Old Farmer's Almanac has you covered with this year's Thanksgiving weather forecast predictions. Using their 2025 long-range predictions, the experts put together a handy U.S. road map that shows where weather may be a concern. So, let's dig into what the skies have in store for us from coast to coast. Now, you can get a head start on planning—for more than just mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie!
The Old Farmer's Almanac suggests we'll see a warmer-than-normal fall across most of the country, and that extends to the week of Thanksgiving. For those near the Drummonds in Central U.S., you can expect sunny skies from the Upper Midwest (Minnesota and Wisconsin) through the Heartland (Iowa, Missouri, Kansas), then all the way to Texas and Oklahoma. While North Texas will see these warmer temperatures, South Texas may get a little cooler with a few showers.
There should also be a good amount of sunshine on Thanksgiving from the Upper Midwest to most of the East Coast. As experts point out, the weather is even supposed to cooperate on travel days leading up to the big feast, specifically near airline hubs in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Detroit, and Charlotte. Take a look at the map below.
If you're traveling south, a few showers from the Ohio Valley to the Southwest to the Deep South could slow you down. For those with family in Florida, you're looking at a fairly warm, but wet Thanksgiving. Over to the Southwest, that same dry weather and sunshine will extend to other travel hubs such as Los Angeles and Phoenix. There will also be warmth and sunshine through the rest of California, from San Diego to San Francisco.
Looking to the Northwest, while the warmer-than-average temperatures continue, these areas could see some rain on Turkey Day, specifically across the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, if you're making a trip to the Rocky Mountains, you'll want to watch out for slick spots due to snow showers that may pop up in northern areas. The southern areas should stay sunny, with temperatures remaining relatively mild across the Rockies.
All that to say: No matter if you're booking a round trip or taking to the roads, you'll likely have no weather woes this Thanksgiving!
Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.
