The Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its Thanksgiving weather forecast for 2026, calling for a mix of snow, rain and sunshine across the United States on Thursday, Nov. 26. Published on Oct. 15, the outlook breaks the holiday into regional weather zones that could shape travel plans from the Upper Midwest to Florida.
The early read matters now because it gives travelers a first map of where roads may be slick, where skies may stay clear and where a longer drive could be needed. The Almanac says the forecast is based on long-range predictions in The 2027 Old Farmer’s Almanac, which means it is not a short-term National Weather Service update and can shift as the holiday gets closer.
In the Upper Midwest, snow is forecast with chillier-than-normal temperatures. The Lower Lakes, including Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago, face a chance of rain and snow with a cool nip in the air, and the Almanac advises travelers there to allow extra time. Alaska is also set for snow, with the Panhandle expecting rain and mild temperatures and the rest of the state seeing snow showers and colder conditions.
The forecast turns messier across much of the East. Rain is expected on Thanksgiving Day in the Northeast and the Atlantic Corridor, both with mild temperatures, while the Southeast and Florida should see showers with warm weather. Snow could also appear around the holiday in the Northeast, and in the Atlantic Corridor snow is possible in the northern part of the region over the weekend as temperatures cool.
Other regions split more cleanly between wet and dry. The Heartland, including St. Louis, Kansas City and Omaha, should see rain and cool conditions. The Pacific Northwest is forecast to get rain, including periods of heavy rainfall, with mild temperatures, while Hawaii could see isolated showers. By contrast, the High Plains, the Desert Southwest, the Pacific Southwest, the Deep South and the Appalachians are forecast to see sunshine, with the High Plains — including Denver, Billings and Rapid City — expecting sunny skies and very warm temperatures that the Almanac calls ideal for holiday travel.
There is still a catch in the forecast: it is only an early look, and the Almanac says conditions can change as Thanksgiving approaches. Snow could show up elsewhere during Thanksgiving week in the Northeast, the Atlantic Corridor, the Appalachians, the Lower Lakes, the Upper Midwest and Alaska, while flakes could return to the Appalachians over the holiday weekend. For travelers, the useful part is not certainty but the split screen — some regions look set for easier driving, while others could face rain or snow when Thanksgiving travel is at its busiest.
