Will SC get cold weather or rain on Thanksgiving? Here’s what NWS & Farmers Almanac forecast
Another Thanksgiving Day is nearly upon us.
Are you prepared yet?
Thanksgiving is under a week away, meaning if you haven’t started preparing by picking up food and ingredients, now is the time. But what about the weather in South Carolina for the Thanksgiving holiday? Have you considered preparing for adverse weather while traveling over the holiday?
For many South Carolina travelers, Thanksgiving travel this year could get a bit wet and messy. Here’s what to know.
NWS Thanksgiving forecast
Tony Petrolito, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in West Columbia, said on Friday that drivers in the state can expect dry weather and seasonable temperatures in the 60s on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Temperatures should remain relatively the same on Thanksgiving the following day. However, there will likely be rain around much of the state, Petrolito said.
“So on the holiday, we’re going to have scattered to numerous showers it looks like,” Petrolito said.
Petrolito added that a cold front was expected to move through Thursday evening.
“We can’t say by the weekend we’ll have temperatures like this (Friday) morning, but the potential is it will be cooler,” he said.
Farmers’ Almanac predictions
The extended forecast from Farmers’ Almanac predicts wet weather on Thanksgiving and much of the following weekend for the Southeast. Expect some windy weather as well, the Farmers’ Almanac adds.
Founded in 1818, the Farmers’ Almanac uses a secret formula that includes components such as “sunspot activity, tidal action, the position of the planet,” to predict long-range weather forecasts. The forecasts are typically made two years in advance. Fans of the Farmers’ Almanac have, over the years, calculated that the predictions are accurate 80-85% of the time.
Travel expectations
National travel numbers are expected to set new records with an estimated 79.9 million travelers for the Thanksgiving holiday, according to AAA. The 2% growth equates to 1.7 million more people than the record set last year and 2 million more than in 2019. The record-breaking traveler numbers are being driven by economic growth, declining inflation, and strong income gains, AAA states.
“With more people taking to the roads, skies, rails, and sea, travelers should expect congested roads and longer lines at transportation terminals,” Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said in a press release.
Drivers this Thanksgiving should notice lower gas prices compared to last year. The national average last Thanksgiving was $3.26, while the state average was $3.25. As of Friday, the national average was $3.058, and the South Carolina average was $2.78, according to AAA.
Best/worst times to drive
- According to INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights:
- The worst times to travel by car over Thanksgiving are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.
- The best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself when interstates and highways are typically clear.
- Drivers returning home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those coming back on Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road.
