No Way! It’s Been How Long Since Rockford’s Last Thanksgiving Snowstorm?

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if you're hoping for some noteworthy weather, don't hold your breath.

The news of heavy precipitation covering most of America during the next week or so has many believing it might be a snowy Thanksgiving in the Rockford area.

Chilly Memories of Thanksgiving Past

There have been plenty of Thanksgiving holidays where the weather was quite chilly in Northern Illinois.

Thanksgiving in 2014 saw highs of only 25 with a low of 11 but only trace amounts of white stuff falling from the sky.

The year before, 2013, saw us hit freezing and dip to 16 for a low, but absolutely nothing when it came to snow.

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In recent years, we've experienced snow in The Forest City a few days before or after Thanksgiving but nothing on the holiday.

The Last Major Thanksgiving Snowfall in Rockford

You'd have to go back another century to find a major snow weather event that occurred in Rockford and gave us over one inch of snow. This rarity is part of what makes Rockford's weather so unique and intriguing.

It wasn't the 90s, 80s, or 70s, either. You'd have to go back to before the moon landing and Woodstock. According to weather.gov, November 28, 1968, was the last significant Thanksgiving snowfall in Rockford, with a recorded 4.5 inches.

A Rare Event in Weather History

That snowfall is the most significant accumulation of the white stuff since they started recording data in 1905.

Even crazier, only five times in the last 118 years, has snow fallen in Rockford during Thanksgiving, giving us over one inch.

Will This Thanksgiving Be the Exception?

Based on historical data, the chances of snow this Thanksgiving are slim. However, it's always exciting to see records being broken. Is it going to snow this Thanksgiving? History says "no," but I'd love to see that 1968 snow record busted.