Northern Michigan Thanksgiving Climatology

Northern Michigan Thanksgiving Climatology

The Thanksgiving holiday is a time to give thanks for the many blessings of the past year, and to celebrate with friends and family. It is also a quite variable time of year across northern Michigan, as the last vestiges of fall give way to the increasing influence of wintertime cold and snow. As such, it is always interesting to take a look back at some of the extremes that have occurred on Thanksgiving Day over the last 100+ years. Below is a look at the warmest, coldest, wettest, and snowiest Thanksgiving Days recorded for various cities throughout the region. As can be seen, much variability exists from year to year, indicative of just how changeable weather conditions can be late in November.

OUTLOOK FOR THIS THANKSGIVING: This year looks to be another very warm one, with highs well into the 50s and perhaps lower 60s in many spots. In fact, a few spots may come close to record highs. However, that warmth will be short-lived, with sharply colder weather arriving by Friday, along with accumulating lake effect snows.

Quick Jump to a City:
Alpena | Traverse City | Gaylord | Sault Ste Marie | Houghton Lake

Alpena Extremes
Warmest	Coldest	Wettest	Snowiest
54ºF (November 24th, 1983)	0ºF (November 23rd, 1989)	0.64" (November 26th, 1981)	5.5" (November 22nd, 2007)

Last 5 Years
Year	High	Low	Precip	Snowfall
2011	51ºF	25ºF	0.00"	0.0"
2010	41ºF	26ºF	0.14"	Trace
2009	46ºF	33ºF	0.16"	Trace
2008	35ºF	30ºF	0.09"	1.6"
2007	30ºF	15ºF	0.26"	5.5"

Traverse City Extremes
Warmest	Coldest	Wettest	Snowiest
63ºF (November 22nd, 1990)	7ºF (November 23rd, 1950)	0.90" (November 26th, 2009)	4.9" (November 27th, 1952)

Last 5 Years
Year	High	Low	Precip	Snowfall
2011	48ºF	40ºF	0.00"	0.0"
2010	41ºF	21ºF	0.03"	0.0"
2009	45ºF	35ºF	0.90"	0.0"
2008	38ºF	33ºF	0.06"	0.2"
2007	31ºF	15ºF	0.14"	1.1"

Gaylord Extremes
Warmest	Coldest	Wettest	Snowiest
55ºF (November 22nd, 1990)	-1ºF (November 23rd, 1989)	0.36" (November 23rd, 1961)	6.0" (November 23rd, 2000)

Last 5 Years
Year	High	Low	Precip	Snowfall
2011	48ºF	36ºF	0.00"	0.0"
2010	37ºF	20ºF	0.05"	Trace
2009	43ºF	31ºF	0.88"	0.8"
2008	32ºF	29ºF	0.06"	0.8"
2007	27ºF	1ºF	0.12"	2.4"

Sault Ste Marie Extremes
Warmest	Coldest	Wettest	Snowiest
56ºF (November 22nd, 1990)	-9ºF (November 28th, 1929)	1.00" (November 26th, 1896)	6.8" (November 23rd, 1950)

Last 5 Years
Year	High	Low	Precip	Snowfall
2011	47ºF	35ºF	0.00"	0.0"
2010	38ºF	20ºF	0.47"	1.9"
2009	45ºF	35ºF	0.72"	0.0"
2008	33ºF	29ºF	0.12"	1.4"
2007	26ºF	16ºF	0.00"	0.0"

Houghton Lake Extremes
Warmest	Coldest	Wettest	Snowiest
56ºF (November 22nd. 1990)	-2ºF (November 23rd, 1989)	0.79" (November 26th, 1981)	11.9" (November 24th, 2005)

Last 5 Years
Year	High	Low	Precip	Snowfall
2006	48ºF	37ºF	0.00"	0.0"
2010	39ºF	21ºF	0.07"	Trace
2009	43ºF	22ºF	0.59"	Trace
2008	34ºF	30ºF	Trace	Trace
2007	30ºF	10ºF	0.10"	1.3"

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Northern Michigan Thanksgiving Climatology