Historical Holiday Weather: Thanksgiving 1863

news image
Special Stories
25 Nov 2021 1:10 AM
[Written by NOAA] On November 26, 1863, residents near Plymouth, Massachusetts celebrated the first federally recognized Thanksgiving holiday. While it is thought that one of the first Thanksgivings took place in Plymouth in the early 1600s, it was not until a proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln in the fall of 1863 that a specific day of thanks was recognized. It was a sunny day with a high near 40°F and slight winds from the northwest. In 1863, the closest weather station to Plymouth was in Fort Warren, Massachusetts. There, the U.S. Army recorded weather observations while they used Fort Warren to protect the Boston Harbor from the Confederate Navy. Their observations indicate that November 1863 was a warm one for eastern Massachusetts, with some light snow early in the month and many days with highs in the 50s. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information is responsible for storing data like the U.S. Army’s 1863 Thanksgiving surface weather observations. Their archive of environmental data is the largest in the world, with over 38 petabytes of digital data available to users, which includes a copy.  A team of experts works to ensure the quality and integrity of these data for present and future generations.
All Weather News
More
Northeast Braces for Severe Storms and Possible Widespread Flooding

Northeast Braces for Severe Storms and Possible Widespread Flooding

The Northeast will finally get some relief fr

9 Jul 2025 10:00 AM
Plains Storms This Week

Plains Storms This Week

Energy spinning off the Rockies is forcing th

9 Jul 2025 9:50 AM
Dangerous Heat Building Out West

Dangerous Heat Building Out West

WEST - Heat alerts have been issued across th

9 Jul 2025 9:00 AM
Chantal Weakens After Making Landfall Sunday Morning

Chantal Weakens After Making Landfall Sunday Morning

Tropical Storm Chantal formed Saturday mornin

7 Jul 2025 4:50 PM
Eastern Pacific Remains Active

Eastern Pacific Remains Active

Following the prolific start to the season, t

7 Jul 2025 12:15 AM
Near Seasonal Temperatures for Many Come July 4th!

Near Seasonal Temperatures for Many Come July 4th!

AAA is expecting over 70 million travelers to

4 Jul 2025 10:15 AM
Northeast Severe Threat on Thursday

Northeast Severe Threat on Thursday

NORTHEAST -A shortwave trough will swing thro

3 Jul 2025 8:05 PM