FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — You never really know what kind of weather we may have from one Thanksgiving to the next. Some years are so warm families will gather for Thanksgiving lunch outside, while other years are cold and dreary. So what about this year?
The days leading up to Thanksgiving are likely to be somewhat mild. Afternoon highs on both Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to reach the upper 50s and low 60s. Don't get used to it!
A strong cold front will move through the area on Wednesday evening. It's expected to be mostly dry with rain chances of only 10% to 20%. It's also possible to see a snow flurry or pellet of sleet mix in with this precipitation, but no accumulation or impacts are expected.
While this front lacks rain, it makes up for it with considerably cooler temperatures.
On Thanksgiving morning, Northwest Arkansas is likely to wake up to temperatures in the upper 20s, while low 30s are expected in the River Valley. These are actual air temperatures. Once we factor in the winds expected to be between 10 to 20 mph, we will get even colder wind chills.
The wind chill, or "feels-like temperature," will be in the low-to-mid 20s across the area on Thanksgiving morning!
By Thursday afternoon, we'll modestly warm up into the upper 40s and low 50s. This won't be one of those years for outside lunch!
Thanksgiving morning temperatures
Temperature highs on Thanksgiving Day
We expect clouds to slowly be moving out of the area throughout the day, giving way to partly sunny skies.
For those looking to get a deal on Black Friday, bundle up!
On Friday morning, temperatures will drop even colder! In fact, Northwest Arkansas is set to fall into the low 20s. Abundant sunshine will warm us back into the low 50s by Friday afternoon with another cold front moving through by Saturday night.
How does this year's forecast compare to previous Thanksgiving Days?
Fayetteville
- Average high temperature since 1949: 55°
- Average low temperature since 1949: 31°
- Hottest Thanksgiving: 78° in 1965
- Coldest Thanksgiving: 27° in 1993
Fort Smith
- Average high temperature since 1882: 57°
- Average low temperature since 1882: 36°
- Hottest Thanksgiving: 81° in 1965
- Coldest Thanksgiving: 32° in 1993
