Turkey trot forecast: Where Thanksgiving runners should brace for the elements

Editor's note: Follow USA TODAY's Wednesday coverage of the Thanksgiving 2024 weather forecast and travel updates.

ARLINGTON, Va. ? Some of the millions of Americans planning to run or walk those iconic turkey trots this Thanksgiving Day ahead of those big holiday meals should be bracing for bitter cold or otherwise foul conditions.

Turkey trots are booming: The race technology company RunSignup says its platform alone will register and/or time more than 900 turkey trots, up more than 100 from a year ago. More than 1 million trotters will participate in those races.

Some races will be run in fantastic weather. The forecast for the 12th Annual Turkey Trot Los Angeles, expected to draw 6,000 participants downtown, is for temperatures in the low 50s with virtually no wind ? pretty much perfect running conditions.

More: How (and why) Thanksgiving became one of USA's biggest running days of the year

Snow showers are expected across the Great Lakes, and parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and downwind areas of Lake Ontario will pick up 4-8 inches of snow by Thursday morning. The good news for runners is the snow that is slamming the Sierra Nevada and the Rockies will slow or stop by Thursday.

Some trotters will face an 'arctic outbreak' in Central US

National Weather Service meteorologist Mussie Kebede says an "artic outbreak" is expected to sweep over the Central U.S. on Wednesday night into Thanksgiving on Thursday. Some areas will see temperatures more than 20 degrees below normal.

In Marquette, Michigan, runners can choose to run a 5K or a 10K. But they can't choose the weather, and the forecast is for 26 degrees with 12-mph winds. In Denver, the 51st Annual Mile High United Way Turkey Trot will be run at 23 degrees. The Kansas City Turkey Trot is looking at temperatures in the 20s.

Which states could see snow: See a projected snowfall forecast map for Thanksgiving

In the Northeast, many will run in the (cold) rain

In the Northeast, runners can expect rain. Participants in the Face to Face Turkey Trot in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park ? described as the world's largest landscaped urban park ? can expect rain and mid-40 temperatures.

About 4,000 runners and walkers who signed up for the sold-out Arlington Turkey Trot also might want to bring rain gear. The forecast calls for rain that will make those temperatures in the 40s feel pretty chilly, especially while waiting for the race to start.

Travel trouble: Here are Tuesday's flight delay, cancellation numbers

Forecasters send mixed messages to the South

Severe though isolated thunderstorms could sweep across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Wednesday night and move into Georgia and South Carolina on Thursday, AccuWeather reports. The worst weather should be moving out right around when the races begin.

In Louisiana, the 38th edition of the Baton Rouge Turkey Trot could face interruption from thunderstorms with temperatures in the upper 60s. A handful of turkey trots in and around Atlanta could see periods of light rain with temperatures in the low 60s.

Weather looks good in the West

The sold-out Phoenix Turkey Trot will have more than 3,000 participants running and walking in dry weather with temperatures in the mid 50s. The San Francisco Turkey Trot, which is also sold out, should be dry with temperatures in the low 50s.

It will be quite a bit cooler in Seattle. The Seattle Turkey Trot, which offers a races ranging from a 15K to a 400 meter kids dash, will be run in temperatures only in the high 30s.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Turkey trot forecast: Where Thanksgiving runners should beware