Thanksgiving travel is stressful enough without an unexpected snowstorm turning a three-hour drive to Grandma's house into an eight-hour ordeal. And according to The Old Farmer's Almanac, some parts of the country could be in for a messy holiday this year. Its annual Thanksgiving forecast is out, so here's what to expect weather-wise as Thanksgiving weekend approaches.
The Almanac's 2026 Thanksgiving weather predictions cover Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 26, plus the surrounding holiday week when you might be traveling. The forecast comes from the 2027 edition of The Old Farmer's Almanac, which uses its long-range weather forecasting method to predict conditions. But keep in mind, these are broad predictions made months in advance, so it's a good idea to check local forecasts closer to your travel dates.
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Now for the good news: Much of the country should escape the worst of the weather, and some areas are predicted to be in for a pretty pleasant Thanksgiving. Here's what The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts for the five major weather regions of the U.S., plus what to pack to be prepared.
Thanksgiving looks soggy in the Northeast — the Old Farmer's Almanac predicts rain for New England, upstate New York and the Atlantic Corridor, which includes cities like Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Temperatures should be relatively mild on Thanksgiving Day, but colder weather could bring snow to the far north before or after the holiday. The northern Appalachians could also see snow showers early in the week, though Thanksgiving itself looks sunnier and warmer.
Some of the worst travel conditions could be in the Midwest. The Upper Midwest, including Minneapolis, Duluth and Green Bay, is forecast to see snow showers and colder-than-normal temperatures.
Further south in the Lower Great Lakes, which includes Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis, you could get a mix of rain and snow throughout Thanksgiving week.
Conditions in the Heartland, including Kansas City, Omaha and Des Moines, are expected to be mixed, with alternating periods of sunshine and showers, with cool, rainy weather possible on Thanksgiving Day. The Ohio Valley could see scattered showers followed by sunshine and cooler temperatures.
The Southeast, including Atlanta, Raleigh and Savannah, should be warm and rainy on Thanksgiving, then sunnier and a little cooler through the weekend.
Florida's forecast is similar: Sunshine may give way to showers on Thanksgiving before clearing up over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Deep South should be a nice place to spend the holiday. Cities like Nashville, New Orleans and Little Rock could see sunshine and cooler temperatures after warm days earlier in the week. Northern Texas and Oklahoma should be sunny and warm, while southern Texas may see a little rain.
If you're heading to California or the desert Southwest for Thanksgiving, expect sunshine, with cooler temperatures in the north and warmer weather around Los Angeles and San Diego.
Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico should also be sunny and warm, while the High Plains, including Denver, Cheyenne and Billings, are expected to have unusually warm, sunny conditions.
The Pacific Northwest, on the other hand, could see heavy rain, even though temperatures should stay relatively mild. The northern Intermountain region may also get scattered showers.
In Alaska, the panhandle may see rain, but have mild temperatures. Elsewhere, colder conditions and snow showers could make holiday travel more challenging.
Hawaii should enjoy relatively mild temperatures, but scattered showers could interrupt Thanksgiving plans.
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