Thanksgiving weather: Temperatures rise, but clouds and rain will roll in later; Sunday looks iffy

It looks like there will be no serious weather problems for Thanksgiving, and the temperatures on Thursday are going to warm back up to about average for the holiday. You might want to keep an eye on the forecast if you’re headed back Sunday from a holiday excursion, though.

Storm Team4 meteorologist Lauryn Ricketts said the highs on Thanksgiving day would hit the mid- to upper 50s.

Ricketts said a cold front will approach the area Thursday night and pass through early Friday morning. This will spread rain across the area, especially east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, after 10 p.m. or 11 p.m.

Skies will eventually clear, and any showers will clear up by daybreak Friday, Ricketts said, but temperatures will only top out in the mid-40s and fall through the afternoon. Winds will pick up through the morning and it will stay fairly windy throughout your Friday. Gusts up to 35 mph are possible.

Saturday looks to be sunny, with temperatures in the mid-40s, Ricketts said.

Sunday is the day to keep an eye on: “A little clipper system could approach the region,” Ricketts said, with plenty of clouds and temperatures in the upper 30s to low 40s, with the chance of a few light rain and snow showers.

Storm Team 4 meteorologist Mike Stinneford said Thursday that the rain might mix with wet snow over the northern and western suburbs early Sunday, and again Sunday night.

Given the recent relatively warm temperatures, it doesn’t look like heavy snowfall is in the cards, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re heading home Sunday from a Thanksgiving road trip.

Forecast

Thanksgiving: Increasing clouds, dry, seasonable; late rain
Temps: Mid- to upper 50s
 

Thanksgiving night: Scattered showers, cloudy
Temps: 40s/30s

 
Friday: Early AM showers (gone by daybreak), decreasing clouds, becoming windy
Temps: 40s and falling through the late afternoon
Winds: NW 15-25mph, gusts to 35+
Wind chills: 30s
 
Saturday: Sunny and breezy
Temps: Mid-40s
Winds: W 10-20mph
Wind chills: 20s/30s
Sunday: Cloudy with light snow/rain showers possible — 30%
Temps: Mid- to upper 40s

Radar

Rick Massimo

Rick Massimo came to WTOP, and to Washington, in 2013 after having lived in Providence, R.I., since he was a child. He's the author of "A Walking Tour of the Georgetown Set" and "I Got a Song: A History of the Newport Folk Festival."

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up