Brrrrr: Thanksgiving to usher in blast of Arctic air over U.S. Northeast

Calm weather forecast for nation’s midsection, but heavy rain likely for Pacific NW and Calif

UPDATED: November 21, 2018. The story has been updated with additional rain and snow forecast information for Saturday, 11/24/18.
Like for much of the nation's midsection, dry, calm weather is forecast for Louisville, Kentucky, on Thanksgiving Day 2018.

Like for much of the nation's midsection, dry, calm weather is forecast for Louisville, Kentucky, on Thanksgiving Day 2018. (Image credit: iStock)

Turkey with a side of winter?

It’s time to pull out the heavy winter coat for your post-dinner stroll this Thursday, say NOAA meteorologists. Thanksgiving Day temperatures will reach only the teens and 20s over much of the Northeast, possibly setting records.

The Wednesday drive to grandma’s might include snow showers from the Great Lakes to New England and a mix of valley rain and mountain snow across the interior West and Rockies.

An incoming storm off the Pacific will bring heavy rain to parts of the Northwest and Northern California. The rain should bring some relief to firefighters battling California’s unrelenting wildfires, but could also cause flash floods and debris flows.

On Saturday, rain is in the forecast across much of the eastern half of the U.S. from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic and will extend into the Northeast on Sunday. Snow chances increase in portions of the central U.S. by the end of the weekend. 

Bundle up and travel safely. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at NOAA!
 

Weather tools at your fingertips

> Find the local forecast for wherever you’ll be this holiday week by inputting your Zip Code at www.weather.gov.

> Get late-breaking weather updates and alerts straight from the source: Follow your local NWS social media feeds.

> Check out the national forecast for the days ahead.

> Should winter weather head your way, here are our tips on how to be prepared.