What you need to know about Thanksgiving weather in the DMV

WASHINGTON — After a soaking wet and windy Tuesday, we’ll make up for it with very nice weather Wednesday and again on Thanksgiving Thursday!

Waking up Wednesday, there may be a few leftover clouds from our Tuesday storm, but skies will clear quickly throughout the day. There will be a noticeable breeze with winds gusting up to 20 – 25 mph, but it will still be warm. Dress for temperatures starting off in the 40s and climbing into the upper 50s.

Thanksgiving will be seasonably cool with morning temperatures in the 30s and afternoon high temperatures in the mid 50s with mostly sunny skies.

And given some wild weather we’ve seen on previous Thanksgiving days, we’ll take it!

• Warmest high temperature: 77 degrees (2007)
• Coldest low temperature: 19 degrees (1903)
• Rainiest: 1.15″ (1971)
• Snowiest: 1.90″ (1989)

Washingtonians had near average temperatures on Thanksgiving in 2022 with a high/low of 61°/33°. However, D.C.’s warmest Thanksgiving was Nov. 22, 2007, with a record high temperature of 77°. By comparison, Washingtonians had a very cold Thanksgiving in 2018 when the high/low was only 42°/29°. 

The last time the nation’s capital experienced a snowy Thanksgiving was 34 years ago. That Thanksgiving, on Nov. 23, 1989, D.C. had 1.9 inches (following 1.6 inches the day before) for a two-day snow total of 3.5 inches. November 1989 finished 1.6° colder than average and was followed by D.C.’s coldest December since 1917. In fact, 1989 remains the only time Washingtonians had both a snowy Thanksgiving and a snowy Christmas.

D.C.’s rainiest Thanksgiving in the last 20 years was on Nov. 26, 2009 (0.13”). The last Thanksgiving with any measurable rainfall was on Nov. 26, 2020.

If you’re traveling back to the DMV over the weekend (or heading out of town!) plan for cooler temperatures in the low 50s Friday and Saturday with partly cloudy skies and a low chance for a spotty shower. Sunday will be even chillier with many areas topping off in the upper 40s.

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