Thanksgiving Weather: Chilly but Clear Across New England

New England is in for a changeable weather pattern as Thanksgiving approaches. The region just experienced a brief warm-up, with temperatures soaring to around 60 degrees on Wednesday. This warm spell, however, is short-lived. A cold front is expected to move through overnight, bringing a chance of showers and gusty winds. By Thanksgiving Day, the weather will be quite different. Expect sunny skies and dry conditions, but also windy at times. Temperatures will be significantly cooler, only reaching the mid-40s in the afternoon. The wind chill will make it feel even colder, around the 30s. For those heading to football games, the fields should be dry, but a towel might come in handy to wipe off the bleachers. Runners participating in turkey trots can expect decent running weather, albeit a bit breezy. In the higher elevations of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, there might be a few brief snow showers. However, the rest of the six-state region should enjoy a dry Thanksgiving. The sun will set at 4:13 p. m. , which is just two minutes later than the earliest sunrise on December 8 and four minutes earlier than the Christmas Day sunset. Thanksgiving weather can vary greatly depending on the date, as it can fall anywhere from November 20 to November 28. This variability is unlike holidays like Christmas or the Fourth of July, which have more consistent weather patterns. For instance, in 1989, Boston received 4. 4 inches of snow on Thanksgiving Day. Conversely, in 1941, temperatures reached a balmy 71 degrees in many areas. Typically, Thanksgiving temperatures hover around the 40s. Looking at specific regions, Greater Boston can expect a sunny but blustery day with temperatures in the mid-40s. Central and Western Massachusetts will see blue skies and temperatures in the low to mid-40s, with notable wind. Southeastern Massachusetts will also enjoy plenty of sunshine and mid-40s temperatures. The Cape and Islands will have sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-40s, but the wind will make it feel chillier. Rhode Island will experience a chilly and blustery day with sunshine and mid-40s temperatures. New Hampshire will have partly to mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the 30s and a bit of breeze.