Thanksgiving weather forecast for this area

Over the next week or so, many people will be traveling over the river and through the woods. With our turn toward cold weather and our recent brushes with snow, many are wondering if the weather could turn tricky for one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.

It’s looking like a relatively calm weather pattern for Thanksgiving week across much of the country. Most of the population centers where our major airports are are located are looking to have very little, if any impact from major storm systems the middle of next week. This should help reduce any weather-related delays.

The one area that may have to be watched is the Southern Plains area for any possible development around or shortly after Thanksgiving. Depending on what develops and the overall pattern, there could be some impact for Black Friday shoppers around the region and potentially here in the Miami Valley.

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While the weather pattern should be quiet next week, don’t expect temperatures to warm up dramatically. The latest long-range outlook released by the Climate Prediction Center shows temperatures will likely remain below average, perhaps significantly so, through Thanksgiving week with some moderation toward the end of November.

While temperatures will be chilly for the coming long holiday weekend, it doesn’t appear there will be much snow around except for perhaps in the Snow Belt regions of the Great Lakes including in northeast Ohio.

Looking back at our climatology for our region around Thanksgiving, in the last 124 years since data has been kept, Dayton has only had nine years with measurable snow (more than a trace) on Thanksgiving Day. Granted, we’ve had over half of those years with rainfall. Most of those 124 Thanksgivings have had temperatures below 50 degrees. However, only two years did we have temperatures stay below 30 degrees.

This coming Thanksgiving Day will mark 20 years that I have been in Ohio. I moved to the Buckeye State on Thanksgiving of 1998 from Wichita, Kansas.

Kansas was certainly a windy place to live, but to be honest, I believe it is windier here in the winter months than it is there. As I mark this big anniversary in Ohio, I just wanted to say how thankful I am to live in this great state and experience such amazing weather that keeps me busy.

I am thankful to live close to family and great friends. I am also thankful for those of you who have watched me on television and read my articles here and have shared your stories with me. I hope you have a wonderful, safe and warm Thanksgiving.

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About the Author

Eric Elwell