How Often Does Grand Rapids Get a White Thanksgiving?

Well, with the busiest week of travel upon us, an already hectic time is set to become even more hectic now that a winter storm is projected to sweep across much of West Michigan. Wind warnings and advisories are abundant, with some cities expected to have 60 mph winds, and snow estimates ranging from 1-3" in spots, 3-5" for Grand Rapids, or 5-8" in other areas.

This got me thinking: people are always hoping for a "white Christmas", but how often has Grand Rapids had a "White Thanksgiving"? It isn't uncommon for us to get snow in November, as we've already had this year, but how many times has it been snowy on Thanksgiving? Turns out, not often. 

Snowy Thanksgivings are Rare

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association / National Weather Service, it is significantly more common for there to be no snow on the ground, let alone snow falling from the sky. Since 1963, there have been 61 Thanksgivings.

READ MORE: The Last Farmer’s Almanac Predicts a Frigid Winter for Michigan

In that time, Grand Rapids has experienced 42 snowless Turkey-days (68%), 7 days of snowfall but none on the ground, 9 days with 1 to 3 inches of snow on the ground, and 3 days with more than 3 inches of snow on the ground.

Not included in the graphic: 2023 (no snow), 2024 (0.4 inches). While there was little snow on Thanksgiving 2024, the following days saw over 4 inches.

As the graphic shows, fall is far more common than winter on Thanksgiving. The snowiest Thanksgiving in NOAA's records occurred in 2004, when a pre-Thanksgiving snowstorm dumped 8 inches. 2000 had 6 inches after a big storm the days before the 23rd, and 1975 also had 6 inches of snow on the ground.

This will be the first snowy Thanksgiving since 2022, and it should be a holiday to remember. Hopefully, we'll witness a Detroit Lions victory at the very least.