Travelers preparing for Thanksgiving on November 26, 2026, face a nationwide mix of rain, sunshine, and localized snow across the United States. Long-range predictions published in the 2027 edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac project wet conditions along the Eastern Seaboard, wintry precipitation in northern zones, and dry, sunny skies across much of the South and Southwest. Because the holiday represents one of the busiest travel periods of the year, families and motorists rely on the long-standing publication to organize road trips, flights, and outdoor gatherings.
Regional weather variations directly shape highway safety and airport logistics across the country. The American Automobile Association (AAA) identifies the Thanksgiving window as the heaviest travel period of the calendar year, making advance weather tracking essential for millions of passengers. While six of the 18 geographic zones monitored by the almanac carry a chance of snow during the broader holiday week, only the Upper Midwest and parts of Alaska are projected to see snow on Thanksgiving Day itself, alongside a rain and snow mix in the Lower Lakes.
- Regions with Thanksgiving week snow potential: Northeast, Atlantic Corridor, Appalachians, Lower Lakes, Upper Midwest, and Alaska.
- Thanksgiving Day rain zones: Northeast, Atlantic Corridor, Southeast, Florida, Heartland, Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii.
- Primary sunny and dry zones: Appalachians, Deep South, High Plains, Desert Southwest, and Pacific Southwest.
The publication compiles its long-range outlook by combining historical meteorological records with solar and climatological analysis, a methodology that has established its reputation among American households.
Rain and mild temperatures across the Northeast and Atlantic Corridor
Instead of a deep freeze on Thanksgiving Day, the Northeast and the Atlantic Corridor are projected to see rain paired with mild temperatures on November 26, 2026. In the Northeast, covering cities such as Albany in New York, Burlington in Vermont, Concord in New Hampshire, and Augusta and Caribou in Maine, chilly conditions are expected before and after the holiday, creating a chance of snow during the surrounding days.
Further south along the Atlantic Corridor, which spans Boston, Providence, Hartford, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., holiday rain will give way to colder air over the weekend. Travelers extending their stays in the northern half of the corridor could encounter snow showers as temperatures drop after Thursday.
Warm showers in the Southeast and sunshine in the Appalachians
Southern states face a split pattern between coastal moisture and inland clearing during the 2026 holiday. Both the Southeast—including hubs in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina—and the state of Florida are forecast to experience warm temperatures accompanied by rain on Thanksgiving Day. By contrast, the Deep South is expected to remain sunny and cool, offering dry conditions for outdoor family dinners.
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Across the Appalachians, early week snow showers in the north and rain in the south are projected to clear out by Thursday, leaving sunny skies and warm temperatures for the holiday meal before colder air returns over the weekend.
Thanksgiving Day snow in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes mix
Wintry weather will concentrate in the northern tier of the country. The Upper Midwest stands out as the sole continental region forecast to receive snow directly on Thanksgiving Day, with colder-than-normal temperatures and flurries expected in Minneapolis, Duluth, and International Falls in Minnesota, Green Bay in Wisconsin, and Marquette in Michigan.
Adjacent areas in the Lower Lakes face unsettled weather throughout the week, with chilly temperatures and a mix of rain and snow stretching from Syracuse and Buffalo in New York through Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, and Milwaukee. In the Ohio Valley, warm conditions early in the period will shift to cooler air, accompanied by a mix of rain and sun, while the Heartland expects cool rain.
Sunny skies in the Plains and divided conditions across the West
Central and western portions of the United States will see some of the warmest weather on the 2026 map. The High Plains and the Desert Southwest are forecast to enjoy sunny and warm conditions on November 26, supporting smooth highway travel. In the Texas–Oklahoma region, sunny skies in the north will contrast with rain in the south under warm temperatures, while the Intermountain region will see rain in its northern sector and sunshine in the south.
Along the West Coast, the Pacific Northwest faces mild rain throughout the holiday. Meanwhile, the Pacific Southwest, including California, is projected to stay sunny, with cool temperatures in northern areas and warm readings in the south. Outside the contiguous states, Hawaii expects mild rain, while Alaska is forecast to see mild rain in the panhandle and chilly snow across the rest of the state.
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Highway and airport logistics during the busy AAA travel window
With millions of Americans driving and flying during the final week of November, wet pavement in the East and snow showers around the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest pose the primary scheduling hurdles. Although the regional breakdown does not point to a single coast-to-coast blizzard, localized rain and wintry mixes around major transit hubs like Chicago, Detroit, New York City, and Atlanta require extra caution.
Addressing travelers heading into the unsettled Lower Lakes corridor, The Old Farmer’s Almanac issued a direct recommendation for those driving or catching flights. “Give yourself plenty of time for holiday travel,” the publication advised.
Safety measures for drivers and air passengers in late November
Motorists and airline passengers crossing multiple climate zones during the November 26 holiday period can reduce delays by taking basic logistical precautions before departure:
- Monitor local weather updates and airport status boards in the days leading up to departure.
- Pack layered clothing and winter gear when traveling to chilly or snow-prone zones in the Upper Midwest, Lower Lakes, and northern New England.
- Map out alternative highway routes in regions expecting Thanksgiving rain or snow.
- Inspect vehicle tires, brakes, battery, and wiper fluids to ensure readiness for wet or icy pavement.
