A Damp Dish for Thanksgiving? New Hampshire Braces for Rain

Thanksgiving. It’s that cherished time of year when families gather, delicious aromas fill the air, and many of us hit the road to visit loved ones. But this year, here in New Hampshire, it seems Mother Nature might be serving up a rather damp side dish alongside the turkey and fixings.

Forecasters are eyeing a system that looks set to bring a significant amount of rain to the Granite State, particularly as we head into the peak travel period just before Thanksgiving Day itself. We're talking about precipitation likely starting up Wednesday night and lingering into Thursday morning, which, let's be honest, is probably not the news you wanted to hear if you’ve got a long drive ahead or a morning parade on your calendar.

Now, while the bulk of this moisture is expected to fall as rain – thanks to milder temperatures keeping any widespread snow at bay – it's always worth a little asterisk for our friends in the higher elevations. You know how quickly things can change up in the mountains, so a wintry mix can't be entirely ruled out in those loftier spots. For most of us, though, it'll be a good old-fashioned soaking.

What does this mean for your holiday plans? Well, if you're planning on traveling Wednesday evening or early Thanksgiving Day, definitely give yourself plenty of extra time. Wet roads, reduced visibility, and potentially heavy downpours can make for tricky driving conditions. And for those planning any outdoor activities, like a brisk pre-dinner walk or a backyard football game? You’ll certainly want to have those umbrellas and waterproof gear at the ready.

The good news is that by later on Thanksgiving Day, it looks like the rain should start to taper off, leaving us with a drier, albeit likely still chilly, evening. So, while the start of the holiday might be a bit soggy, there's still plenty of time to enjoy the warmth of family and good food indoors. Just remember to keep an eye on the latest local forecasts, and travel safely, everyone!