Pretty tranquil turkey day

Update #681: The weather this week will be mostly dry in the Hudson Valley, hopefully opposite of your Thanksgiving turkey.

The weather in the Hudson Valley this week will be mostly dry, hopefully opposite of your Thanksgiving turkey, with sides of wind, sunshine, cold air, and warmth, even if the latter is fleeting.

There will be some rain later Tuesday, followed by a stretch of mostly rain-free conditions.

Snow remains absent from the local forecast, although parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, probably including Minneapolis and Buffalo, will have snow on the ground on Thanksgiving this year. The Hudson Valley’s snowiest Thanksgiving on record happened back in 1971, when there was half a foot!

A winter storm could also threaten central states next weekend.

Accumulating snow is forecast in the Northeast, Rockies, Midwest, and Great Lakes this week

There are still signs of a pattern shift in December, with stormier conditions and pulses of cold air arriving in the East. You can read more about that in my recent Washington Post article [gift link].

It seems relatively likely that the Hudson Valley will experience its first accumulating snow or ice before the holidays. On average, the region receives its first inch of snow during the first week of December.

The week ahead

The week ahead will bring pretty benign weather conditions to the Hudson Valley.

Monday: pretty nice start to the week ☀️

Tuesday: plenty of clouds, rain developing in the afternoon

Wednesday: mild with some sun and a chance for a PM shower

Thursday: a pretty tranquil turkey day, aside from the wind! 🌬️

Friday: chilly with some sun and a gusty breeze continuing

Saturday-Sunday: probably a dry weekend, although a storm may approach late Sunday; for people traveling home, note that there may be a winter storm in the central states next weekend

Looking ahead to the week of December 1, it could start off mild with some rain in the Hudson Valley but finish colder, perhaps setting the stage for some wintry weather in early-to-mid December. Stay tuned! ❄️

Today’s newsletter also features birds. Not turkeys, but here’s a Tui and mallard duck, found in Wellington’s botanical garden. While tui are endemic to New Zealand, these ducks were introduced, initially from England before a second batch arrived in New Zealand from Connecticut.

One of New Zealand’s striking locals, for its song, size and features, the tui

Mallard duck posing in the hopes that it will be fed

Cable car glides above the windiest capital city in the world, Wellington

Hope your week is… full of brilliant birds and things to be thankful for 🦃