Weather

Get ready for a chill leading up to it, though.

Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff

Late November and Thanksgiving week can bring all sorts of weather.  Depending on the year we’ve seen a mild rainstorm, a cold snowstorm followed by a brilliant blue sky with crisp cold, or even a sunny, mild day. This year we’re on the dry side of the equation right into the weekend, with one small exception.

As folks continue to travel to their destinations in the pre-Thanksgiving period, temperatures will be cold and skies will be blue. The solar glare from the low angle of the sun in the southern sky will be the one potential weather slowdown for those folks heading west and south during the afternoon. Don’t forget your sunglasses.  Wednesday morning brings the coldest air of the season so far and the first time Boston goes into the 20s this fall.

It will be quite cold Wednesday morning with a very hard freeze.

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Temperatures will be within a few degrees of 40 both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, with a mostly cloudless sky.  The wind will make it feel quite cold with wind chill values in the teens to start the day and in the 20s in the afternoon. 

Highs Wednesday will struggle to the lower 40s in the afternoon with a chilly breeze.

On Thursday a flip to a southerly flow of air brings milder conditions after a cold start. Temperatures in the afternoon will reach the low to middle 50s for a nearly ideal day from start to finish. Everything from the turkey trots in the morning to those football games to a late afternoon stroll to walk off the evening meal can be done without worrying about the weather.

Highs Thanksgiving afternoon will reach the 50s in much of southern New England.

A new cold front approaches for Friday with a few showers and cloudy skies. It will be in the 40s on that day and as you’re perhaps headed to a local mall, you might get wet heading from the car into the stores. But I’m not expecting heavy downpours.

A line of showers will push through New England on Friday with some snow in northern New England.

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The actual upcoming weekend is cold and crisp with temperatures in the upper 30s to lower 40s, along with a hard freeze each night. Weather will not be a factor heading back to Boston or for the students who might be driving back to their local colleges anywhere in New England. Have a terrific Thanksgiving.