What The Old Farmer's Almanac Predicts For Thanksgiving Weather

With many of us anticipating guests this Thanksgiving, cleaning the house isn't the only thing on our minds. We'll probably need to whip our gardens into shape, too. The Old Farmer's Almanac released their weather map of the United States for the week of November 27, and you can use it to help plan yard work before family gatherings. Some regions will be warmer or milder than usual, giving you ample time to rake those leaves. Other regions might be cold or rainy. Let's dig into the forecast.

If you're in the Midwest, expect mild conditions – so you won't have much of an excuse not to mow, weed, or rake before guests arrive. The very northern parts of Minnesota might get a few snow flurries, but other states, like the Dakotas and Nebraska, should expect sunshine. Clear skies will also settle over the Northeastern states. Just wear warm clothes when you head outside, since you'll feel a bite in the air. While you're outside, now's a great time to lay down a layer of mulch to insulate plant roots. 

Western states, including California, Oregon, and Washington, may be in store for a wet holiday with rain on tap. That could put a damper on garden duty with a whole bunch of soggy leaves in the yard. Then again, there's a decent reason to leave them where they lie. You shouldn't rake all the fallen leaves in your yard this fall if you want to keep your garden's ecosystem healthy.

Several areas of the U.S. will experience a shift in temperatures over the Thanksgiving week, at least according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Near Washington, D.C. and other cities along the Atlantic, the week might start mild but turn chilly. You'll want to get the hard lifting of working in the garden out of the way early. The opposite happens in the Southeast and throughout Florida. It'll start out cold and warm up later — maybe you'll have a good opportunity for some Turkey Day football out on the lawn.

Clear weather comes to Texas and Oklahoma, perfect for any weeding that needs to be done. An isolated shower might pop up in the Southwest, which will be otherwise warm and dry.  Prepare for a mix of rain and snow across the Rocky Mountains. In Appalachia, colder-than-normal temps could arrive. Don't make the mistake during fall cleanup of forgetting a jacket or hoodie. Bundle up if you plan to mow.

The Old Farmer's Almanac tries to forecast long-term weather, like what's predicted for the upcoming winter. The accuracy of these predictions are up for debate. So if you use their weather map, also check in with local forecasts before you tidy up the garden beds. And while you're cleaning up the yard, you can go ahead and spruce up your patio for the holiday. Add pots of mums or decorative pumpkins to your front porch. Just wait until shortly before guests arrive to put any real gourds outside, since squirrels or other critters love to snack on them.