Back in Turkey Day weather history...

One of the year’s biggest feasts is set to take place today, November 25, 2021. Thanksgiving is already here and although we’re closer to winter than summer at this point, sometimes Mother Nature likes to switch things up, weather-wise.

Let’s take a look back in history for historical weather on the Thanksgiving holiday.

Our nation’s capital, Washington D.C., often has Thanksgiving Day temperatures in the 40s and 50s, but back in 1930 the daily high temperature only reached a sub-freezing temperature of 30 F! Later on in 1989, measurable snow of 1.9 inches fell onto the grounds of the capital.

More recently in 2007, the holiday’s high temperature got up to a warm 77 F in D.C — wipes sweat from that brow.

Many people head to New York City for the Thanksgiving Day Parade but thank goodness no one ventured outside for this event back in 1871. The high was only 22 F with a low of 15F. Brrr! The parade didn’t start until 1924, and luckily temperatures made it into the more seasonable 40s.

Further west in Poplar Bluff, Mo., the year 1933 was the warmest yet with a Thanksgiving high of a balmy 75 F! Forty-two years later in 1975, the mercury only made it to a cold 30 F. This Thanksgiving, a passing cold front will allow temperatures to drop throughout the day making it pretty chilly in the 40s across the middle Mississippi Valley.

Let’s take it back to 1950. The Great Appalachian Snowstorm hit the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. From heavy snow to record low temperatures and to blizzard conditions, many were impacted by this weathermaker.

Concord, N.H., recorded winds of 110 m.p.h. from this storm. Further south in Alabama and Florida, record lows were set as low as 5 F! Northward in Ohio, 44 inches of snow was recorded in Steubenville.

The Pacific and Atlantic hurricane seasons officially wrap up on November 30th due to the cooling tropical waters as winter approaches, but that doesn’t mean tropical weather has to follow our rules.

On the more tropical side, Hurricane Iwa hit the western Hawaiian Islands on Thanksgiving in 1982. Winds were as high as 86 m.p.h. with gusts as high as 105 m.p.h. Hurricane Iwa hit Hawaii very close to the season’s end and it still made a great impact on the Hawaiian residents that holiday.

Be weather-ready with this year's forecast as you make your trek to friend's and family's homes for the holiday meal.