Thanksgiving holiday - Back in Turkey Day weather history

One of the year’s biggest feasts is set to take place today, November 28, 2024. 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.

Washington D.C., often has Thanksgiving Day temperatures in the 40s and 50s, but back in 1930 the high temperature only reached 30 F! Later on in 1989, 1.9 inches of snow fell onto the grounds of the Capital. More recently in 2007, the holiday’s high temperature got up to 77 F.

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

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.

On the more tropical side, Hurricane Iwa hit the western Hawaiian Islands on Thanksgiving in 1982. Winds were as high as 86 mph with gusts as high as 105 mph. This year, no tropical weather is in the forecast.

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