2026 Holiday Forecast: From Blizzards To Beach Sun

Hawaii offers the warmest holiday escape in the United States, with Honolulu and Maui enjoying sunny skies and afternoon highs near 82 degrees. Gentle trade winds will keep humidity comfortable, with only brief early morning showers over windward mountain slopes.

Alaska will be locked in deep winter, with Anchorage highs staying in the mid-20s and interior Fairbanks plunging well below zero. Frequent snow showers and blowing snow will require full winter survival gear and careful monitoring of regional flight connections.

Utah will feature classic winter scenery, with mountain ski resorts around Park City getting early-season snowpack. Salt Lake City valley temperatures will reach the low-40s with chilly night air, so holiday drivers heading into the canyons should watch for icy patches.

Tennessee travelers can look forward to pleasant holiday weather, with highs reaching near 58 degrees in Nashville and Memphis. Mountain breezes will cool the Great Smoky Mountains into the 30s at night, but clear roadways will provide ideal driving conditions statewide.

Missouri will see seasonal holiday weather, featuring mostly sunny skies and afternoon temperatures around 48 degrees. Light northerly winds will bring chilly evening air, but dry conditions should ensure smooth holiday road trips across the Interstate 70 transit route.

Minnesota will be one of the coldest states in the nation, with Minneapolis highs hovering near 30 degrees and nighttime temperatures plunging into the teens. Light snow flurries and roadway icing could impact travel along Interstate 35 and Interstate 94.

Arizona offers stark contrasts for holiday travelers. Phoenix and Tucson will enjoy pleasant desert sunshine with highs near 75 degrees, while northern high country around Flagstaff will experience crisp winter temperatures in the 40s and cold sub-freezing nights.

Massachusetts will see crisp, authentic late-November conditions, with Boston highs near 45 degrees and sharp ocean breezes. Interior Berkshire towns will dip below freezing at night, but mostly sunny skies are expected to keep Logan Airport departures on schedule.

North Carolina features a wide weather spread, ranging from brisk 50-degree highs in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville to comfortable 65-degree sunshine in Raleigh and Wilmington. Mostly dry skies will make for smooth travel along Interstate 40 and Interstate 85.

Michigan will feel the full grip of early winter, with highs struggling to reach 38 degrees in Detroit and Grand Rapids. The Upper Peninsula and western snowbelts face accumulating lake-effect snow, making winter tires essential for holiday road travel along Interstate 94.

Georgia will offer excellent holiday travel conditions, with afternoon highs reaching the mid-60s across Atlanta and southern farming valleys. Light morning fog could briefly slow early departures along Interstate 75, but afternoons will be mostly sunny and dry.

Ohio will feature overcast skies and daytime temperatures in the low-40s. Holiday drivers traveling along the Ohio Turnpike may encounter cold rain showers or brief snow flurries near Lake Erie, with chilly nighttime conditions extending south toward Columbus and Cincinnati.

Pennsylvania travelers can expect seasonal conditions with daytime highs around 45 degrees. The western Allegheny plateau may see scattered rain or wet snow flurries, while eastern regions around Philadelphia stay largely clear and dry for holiday highway commutes.

Western Washington will experience typical late-November drizzle and cool highs in the upper-40s around Seattle and Puget Sound. Heavy snow is projected over Stevens and Snoqualmie passes, requiring holiday drivers to carry chains and check mountain pass travel alerts.

Denver and the Front Range will see crisp temperatures in the upper-40s, while higher elevations face accumulating snow. Ski resorts across Vail and Aspen will welcome fresh snowfall, but drivers on Interstate 70 should prepare for winter traction laws and icy pass conditions.

Travelers flying through O'Hare or driving the Interstate 90 corridor should prepare for classic late-autumn chill. Highs will hover near 40 degrees with stiff westerly winds off Lake Michigan, dropping into the upper-20s overnight with patchy morning frost.

Florida will be among the warmest spots in the country for late November travel, featuring daytime highs in the low-80s across Orlando, Tampa, and Miami. Afternoon sea breeze clouds will bring only isolated quick-passing showers, offering ideal conditions for outdoor gatherings.

Most of Texas will enjoy comfortable late-autumn temperatures, with highs reaching the upper-60s in North Texas and mid-70s along the Gulf Coast. A fast-moving cold front could trigger scattered showers along Interstate 35, followed by breezy, cooler holiday evening air.

California will see pleasant holiday conditions along the coast, with Los Angeles and San Diego reaching the low-70s under sunny skies. Northern valleys will experience cool morning fog, while mountain travel across Donner Pass may see light snow showers above 6,000 feet.

New York travelers can expect brisk daytime highs in the mid-40s with chilly overnight lows dipping near freezing. Upstate regions face intermittent lake-effect rain or light flurries near Buffalo and Rochester, while New York City remains mostly dry for holiday parades.