Here's Why You Don't Want To Wait Until Next Weekend To Put Up Your Holiday Lights

You may want to get your lights up early this year.

Many of us, myself included, adhere to a strict schedule when it comes to outdoor holiday decorations.

The annual tradition of hanging string lights from the roof, nailing a wreath to the front door, putting reindeer and snowmen in the front yard, and pumping up a giant inflatable Santa Claus happens the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Putting up lights even a day before Thanksgiving goes against that tradition. It's a little like that old rule about wearing white after Labor Day, but possibly more important, in my opinion. It’s a rule that keeps the seasons in check and sets the stage for a fun December.

But the weather across the country suggests that this might be the year to break with tradition.

"If you wait until after Thanksgiving, well, you're going to shiver putting up lights outdoors," said senior digital meteorologist Jonathan Erdman. "Highs, if you call them that, next weekend (Nov. 29-30) in the Northern Plains and upper Midwest could be stuck in the teens or 20s. And winds could make it feel colder than that."

This weekend, on the other hand, is looking to be relatively warm across the country, with highs in the 50s and 60s for many.

To name just one dramatic example, Erdman said, Denver could see highs near 60 degrees this weekend, but then be stuck in the 20s by next Sunday.

In parts of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida this weekend, we're even looking at highs in the 80s.

Is that a little too warm to get in the holiday decorating spirit for you? That's understandable.

If it means that you could get those long strings of lights hung all around the house without your fingers going numb, though, it might just be the right call.

For those worried about breaking tradition, here's one more tip: Just don't plug them in until after the turkey is served.