Dreaming of a…. ‘WHITE THANKSGIVING?’

First of all, remember – Thanksgiving isn’t always on the same date every year, but it IS always the fourth Thursday of November since 1941 (Prior to 1941 Thanksgiving Day was the last Thursday of November). The earliest date Thanksgiving can happen is November 22. The latest date for Thanksgiving is November 28. This year, that date is November 25th.

We’ve already had our first taste of snow, but with no accumulation. Technically, a ‘White Christmas’ is when there is at least ONE INCH of snow on the ground. In Northern Iowa, historically, there is around a 50/50 chance of having a White Christmas. But a 'White Thanksgiving?" It has happened before…probably more than you think.

Since 1971 in Waterloo, there have been 14 Thanksgiving Days with at least one inch of snow on the ground, most recently in 2018. That’s roughly one out of every 4 Thanksgiving days.

If you add in the days where it snowed any amount or if there was already any amount of snow on the ground, that grows the number of Thanksgiving Days to feature any amount of snow to 21 out of the past 50 -- nearly 50% of the past 50 Turkey Days!

Past Thanksgiving Days in the Waterloo Area (since 1971) to Feature Snow (on the ground or it snowed that day - according to NOAA Regional Climate Centers)

11/25/1971 – 1” of snow on the ground (snowed a trace)
11/23/1972 – 1” of snow on the ground
11/27/1975 – 4” of snow on the ground
11/24/1977 – 4” of snow on the ground (2.4” fell that day)
11/23/1978 – 3” of snow on the ground (snowed a Trace)
11/24/1983 – 2” of snow on the ground (snowed a Trace)
11/28/1985 – 1” of snow on the ground (snowed .3”)
11/26/1986 – 4” of snow on the ground
11/23/1989 – Less than an inch on the ground (Snowed a Trace)
11/28/1991 – 9” of snow on the ground (Snow an inch that day)
11/26/1992 – 8” of snow on the ground (snowed a trace)
11/25/1993 – No snow on the ground, but it snowed a trace
11/28/1996 – Trace of snow on the ground
11/23/2000 – Trace of snow on the Ground
11/24/2005 – No snow on the ground, but it snowed a trace
11/22/2007 – 1” of snow on the ground / snowed a trace
11/26/2009 – No snow on the ground, but it  snowed a trace
11/28/2013 – 1” of snow on the ground
11/27/2014 – 2” of snow on the ground / snowed a Trace
11/22/2018 – 1” of snow on the ground
11/28/2019 – Snowed a trace

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