Thanksgiving is about a month away, and it's fair to start wondering what the weather might look like for your annual Turkey Trot or touch football game.
If you're the type to put up Christmas decorations over Thanksgiving weekend to get in the yuletide spirit, it likely won't feel like the holiday season yet. The Old Farmer's Almanac released its 2026 Thanksgiving forecast map
and predicted that East Tennessee will have a sunny Thanksgiving Day.The National Weather Service is predicting a similar outlook, with above-average temperatures.
Here's what the Old Farmer's Almanac and the NWS are predicting for Thanksgiving in East Tennessee.
What is the Old Farmer's Almanac Thanksgiving 2026 weather forecast for East Tennessee?
It might be sunny on Thanksgiving in East Tennessee, but it will be chilly, cooling down after a warm stretch.
The Old Farmer's Almanac puts Tennessee in its Deep South region, but the eastern part of the Volunteer State borders states in the Appalachian region, which are expected to have snow in the northern parts and rain in the southern parts in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
The good news is that, even for parts of East Tennessee that are near the Appalachian region, the Old Farmer's Almanac predicts sunny skies and possibly warmer conditions if you're far enough east.
What is the National Weather Service Thanksgiving 2026 weather forecast for East Tennessee?
The NWS is predicting that temperatures around Thanksgiving will lean above average in East Tennessee. The chances of precipitation are also leaning above average.
In Knoxville, the average Nov. 26 temperature is 46 degrees. It has been as low as 36 or as high as 56.
TheThanksgiving Day averages based on the NWS period of record show that the average temperature is 44.8 degrees and the average rainfall is 0.08 inches.
When is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving always occurs on the fourth Thursday of November. This year, Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Nov. 26.
The first time Thanksgiving was celebrated under the U.S. Constitution, George Washington declared Thursday, Nov. 26, 1789, a "Day of Public Thanksgiving," according to USA TODAY.
In 1939, then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving to the second-to-last Thursday in November to extend the Christmas shopping season, but only 32 states adhered. Then, in 1941, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution that declared Thanksgiving would be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. The resolution was amended by the U.S. Senate and signed by Roosevelt.
The U.S. has recognized Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November every year since.
Afton Pratt covers trending and breaking news for Knox News and Tennessee. She can be reached at ampratt@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: East Tennessee Thanksgiving 2026 forecast: Sunny skies, chilly temps
