The Farmers' Almanac is warning that snow and colder weather could slow Thanksgiving travel for millions of Americans across the Midwest and other regions in 2026.
The long-running Almanac put out an early forecast in August for the week of Thanksgiving, which falls on November 26, 2026. The US Sun reported the outlook and its possible effects on holiday road and air trips.
Millions of Americans plan to travel that week. The Almanac says parts of the country could see brief slowdowns from snow or wet roads, while large stretches look milder and more routine.
The forecast is early and subject to change. The Almanac released it to give travelers time to prepare.
Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois, and Wisconsin are the states most likely to see snow. The Almanac points to colder, more winterlike conditions there, with possible scattered snow showers or flurries.
For the Midwest, the Farmers' Almanac flagged “some brief travel slowdowns.”
A wider cold zone stretches across Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas. Those states are expected to see a cold holiday.
Snow is also possible in the Rockies and the northern Plains, mainly at higher elevations. Mountains in the interior West could pick up light snow as well.
Travel looks mostly favorable across the Northeast and New England. That covers New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
The Farmers' Almanac described conditions there as “cool and mainly fair,” with a chance of flurries in the north and at high elevations. Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Delaware are expected to see similar weather.
The Southeast is on track for easier holiday weather. Tennessee, Florida, the Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, and West Virginia fall in that milder zone.
The Farmers' Almanac gave this outlook for the region:
"generally mild and pleasant"
It also pointed to “a good shot at dry weather and plenty of sunshine for holiday plans.”
Farther west, California, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona are forecast to run cooler than usual for Thanksgiving. Northern California carries a potential for rain. Washington, Oregon, and Idaho look more typical, with periods of rain and possible wet road conditions.
Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico could see cooler air inland, with higher terrain turning colder. The Almanac said widespread storminess does not stand out there right now.
The early call is not a prediction of a coast-to-coast blowout. The Farmers' Almanac summed up the larger pattern this way:
"Taken together, most of the country should see a typical late-November week rather than a major nationwide storm,"
That leaves the practical takeaway for travelers plain. Some Midwest routes may need extra time if flurries show up. Much of the East and South look far less troubled. The West may simply feel colder, with rain or mountain snow in spots.
Long-range holiday forecasts always shift as November gets closer. Families still make the trip. The ones who leave early, watch the roads, and pack a little patience usually handle whatever the sky actually delivers.
