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Extreme Thanksgiving Weather
November 24, 2025 at 12:45 AM EST
By WeatherBug's Ryan Schwimer
Thanksgiving is a holiday notorious for its horrific weather. From snowstorms to hurricanes and tornadoes, let's take a look at some of the worst Thanksgiving Day weather events.
Thanksgiving Day Tornado Outbreak of 1926
On November 25, 1926, the southern U.S. was met with a deadly tornado outbreak. Fourteen confirmed tornadoes touched down, killing and injuring many, while leaving many without homes. This outbreak affected both Arkansas and Louisiana, causing $630,000 in damage at the time, which amounts to $10.9 million in 2023.
Thanksgiving Snowstorm
A record-holding snowstorm in 1971 impacted New York the day before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Day itself. The storm brought 22.5 inches of snow to Albany, N.Y. with surrounding areas reporting amounts nearing 30 inches leaving traveling motorists stranded.
Hurricane Iwa
Hurricane Iwa made landfall across the Hawaiian Islands on Thanksgiving Day in 1982 as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson wind scale. It directly affected and destroyed Ni'ihau, Kaua'i, and O'ahu, bringing a storm surge of 6 to 8 feet. The storm left many without homes and killed four people.
Thanksgiving Day Bomb Cyclone
A storm system approached the northern half of the West Coast two days before Thanksgiving Day in 2019. It rapidly intensified into a record setting bomb cyclone the day before Thanksgiving, bringing hurricane-force winds to the coastal states. California saw significant rain rates in some areas, while San Diego roads became submerged in 2 or more feet of water. The mountain areas picked up 1 to 2 feet of snow with blizzard conditions reported around the Oregon & California border on Interstate 5. Drivers were stranded for 17 or more hours and spent the night in their vehicles.
Image: Hurricane Iwa from NOAA-7. (NOAA, 24 November 1982).
Thanksgiving Day Tornado Outbreak of 1926
On November 25, 1926, the southern U.S. was met with a deadly tornado outbreak. Fourteen confirmed tornadoes touched down, killing and injuring many, while leaving many without homes. This outbreak affected both Arkansas and Louisiana, causing $630,000 in damage at the time, which amounts to $10.9 million in 2023.
Thanksgiving Snowstorm
A record-holding snowstorm in 1971 impacted New York the day before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Day itself. The storm brought 22.5 inches of snow to Albany, N.Y. with surrounding areas reporting amounts nearing 30 inches leaving traveling motorists stranded.
Hurricane Iwa
Hurricane Iwa made landfall across the Hawaiian Islands on Thanksgiving Day in 1982 as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson wind scale. It directly affected and destroyed Ni'ihau, Kaua'i, and O'ahu, bringing a storm surge of 6 to 8 feet. The storm left many without homes and killed four people.
Thanksgiving Day Bomb Cyclone
A storm system approached the northern half of the West Coast two days before Thanksgiving Day in 2019. It rapidly intensified into a record setting bomb cyclone the day before Thanksgiving, bringing hurricane-force winds to the coastal states. California saw significant rain rates in some areas, while San Diego roads became submerged in 2 or more feet of water. The mountain areas picked up 1 to 2 feet of snow with blizzard conditions reported around the Oregon & California border on Interstate 5. Drivers were stranded for 17 or more hours and spent the night in their vehicles.
Image: Hurricane Iwa from NOAA-7. (NOAA, 24 November 1982).