What day is Thanksgiving 2026? Old Farmer's Almanac forecasts rain, snow and sunshine across US for holiday week. Check state-wise update

Thanksgiving, the holiday pit stop between Halloween and Christmas, is just around the corner. Thanksgiving occurs on the fourth Thursday of November every year, according to Old Farmer's Almanac. In 2026, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26 and it is a federal holiday in the US.

ALSO READ: East Lansing police shooting: Police search for suspect after off-campus gunfire near Michigan State University

Old Farmer's Almanac Thanksgiving 2026 weather forecast

According to Savannahnow, the Old Farmer's Almanac has predicted warm temperatures and showers for Thanksgiving in the Southeast with a sunny but cool weekend to follow. According to the National Weather Service's 30-day forecast, there are 33-40% chance of above-normal temperatures for all of Georgia and varying degrees of above-normal rain chances. It's looking especially rainy farther south where there's a 60-70% chance. This year's Farmers' Almanac Thanksgiving forecast predicting generally mild and pleasant conditions across the Southeast "with a good chance of dry weather and plenty of sunshine."


ALSO READ: Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS carries a bizarre chemical clue suggesting it was formed 7 billion years ago, long before our Sun and Solar System existed

According to Old Farmer's Almanac, 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 weather forecast does not look like a major nationwide storm will dominate the week.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What it means for Thanksgiving travellers

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.