Thanksgiving Weather Forecast 2026: What to Expect Across the U.S.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, food, gratitude—and for many Americans, travel. Whether you’re driving across town or flying across the country, the weather can shape your plans in a big way. So what does the Thanksgiving Weather Forecast 2026 look like?

For the holiday week—Monday, November 23, through Thursday, November 26, 2026—the overall pattern across the United States looks more like a typical late-November setup than a major coast-to-coast storm. That’s good news for many travelers, although a few regions could still deal with wet roads, snow showers, or chilly conditions.

The Big Picture

This year’s Thanksgiving forecast suggests:

• Rainy stretches in the Pacific Northwest
• Cooler, mixed conditions in the Southwest
• Cold late-November weather in the Plains and Rockies
• Scattered snow showers or flurries in the Great Lakes and Midwest
• Cool but mostly fair weather in the Northeast
• Mild, pleasant conditions across much of the Southeast
• Mostly seasonable weather in the South Central states

Taken together, it does not look like a major nationwide storm will dominate the week.

Check your Regional Thanksgiving Forecast Breakdown HERE

Northeast & New England

Travelers in the Northeast should see cool and mainly fair weather overall. In northern and higher-elevation areas, a few flurries are possible, but the broader pattern looks favorable for holiday travel.

States in this zone include New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

Internal link opportunity: Link “Northeast & New England forecast” to your regional forecast page.

Great Lakes, Ohio Valley & Midwest

This region leans colder and more winterlike, with scattered snow showers or flurries possible. While a blockbuster storm is not currently indicated, some brief travel slowdowns could develop where snow showers pop up.

States in this zone include Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Internal link opportunity: Link “Great Lakes, Ohio Valley & Midwest forecast” to your regional forecast page.

Southeast

The Southeast looks like one of the winners this Thanksgiving week. Expect generally mild and pleasant conditions, with a good chance of dry weather and plenty of sunshine for parades, football, backyard gatherings, and road trips.

States in this zone include Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.

Internal link opportunity: Link “Southeast forecast” to your regional forecast page.

North Central

Across the northern Plains and Rockies, expect cold late-November weather. Some areas—especially the northern Plains and higher elevations of the Rockies—could see light snow.

States in this zone include Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.

Internal link opportunity: Link “North Central forecast” to your regional forecast page.

South Central

The South Central states should be mostly seasonable for late November. Inland areas may trend a bit cooler, and western or higher-terrain spots could run colder still, but widespread storminess does not stand out at this time.

States in this zone include Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico.

Internal link opportunity: Link “South Central forecast” to your regional forecast page.

Northwest

The Pacific Northwest should expect typical late-fall weather, which means periods of rain and the potential for wet roads.

States in this zone include Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

If you’re traveling by car, keep an eye on road conditions and allow extra time.

Internal link opportunity: Link “Northwest forecast” to your regional forecast page.

Southwest

The Southwest will likely see mixed conditions, with cooler weather overall, some rain in Northern California, and light mountain snow in parts of the interior West.

States in this zone include California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.

Internal link opportunity: Link “Southwest forecast” to your regional forecast page.

What This Means for Thanksgiving Travelers

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year, so even routine late-November weather can create delays. The main weather trouble spots to watch right now are:

• Snow showers in the Upper Midwest
• Light snow in parts of the Rockies and northern Plains
• Rain and wet roads in the Pacific Northwest
• Mostly cool but manageable weather in the East
• Pleasant, drier weather across much of the Southeast

In other words, this forecast currently points to regional inconveniences, not a major national shutdown.

If you’re planning a trip, it’s always smart to check updates from the National Weather Service and the NOAA Weather Prediction Center as Thanksgiving week gets closer.

When Is Thanksgiving 2026?

Thanksgiving Day 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26. In the United States, Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.

For more on the history and traditions of the holiday, see our Thanksgiving Day guide.

Final Thought

At this point, Thanksgiving 2026 looks more typical than turbulent. Much of the East appears cool and largely dry, the Southeast looks mild and pleasant, the Plains and Rockies may deal with light snow and colder air, and the Pacific Northwest should prepare for rainy late-fall conditions.

That’s a forecast many holiday travelers will gladly take.

Want more long-range weather insight? Be sure to read our 2026–2027 Winter Weather Forecast, check your regional long-range forecast, and explore more of our weather forecast articles here at Farmers’ Almanac.