Trick or Treat: The Halloween Forecast

October 27,2013

 

 

 

 

Northeast

After two consecutive Halloweens with bad weather, due to a 2011 snowstorm and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, parts of the Northeast – especially south of New York City – will experience slightly better conditions this year.
It looks to be rather mild on Halloween in the Northeast, but temperatures will vary quite a bit from Philadelphia to Boston. For the New York City and Philly areas, temperatures will top out in the mid 60s and should fall to the mid to upper 50s between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.  The chance for rain looks low, but it never hurts to carry an umbrella just in case.
(FORECAST: New York City | Philadelphia | Rochester | Boston | Portland)
Further north in Boston, highs will only top out at the mid to upper 50s and by the time kids head out to trick-or-treat, expect temperatures to be in the lower 50s.  There will be chance for rain around Beantown but it remains low. So take a light jacket and an umbrella in the evening, just in case.

Halloween Forecast

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Halloween Temperatures

Southeast

From Virginia to Florida, it looks like a great night to enjoy the outdoors. Temperatures will be pretty mild, in the upper 60s to lower 70s along the entire I-95 corridor. There might even be a few 80s in South Florida. A few isolated showers will be possible, especially right along the coast.
(FORECAST: Washington, D.C. | Charlotte | Atlanta | Nashville | Orlando)
Heading back further west into Alabama, central Tennessee and Kentucky, we’re looking at an entirely different story. Rain and thunderstorms, some of which might be severe, will be possible through the evening hours. That said, there’s still quite a bit of model disagreement about timing and intensity and we will be updating the forecast between now and then.  Check back with us frequently in the upcoming days as the picture becomes clearer.

Midwest

The same front and upper level system that will affect parts of the Deep South will also cause rain and thunderstorm activity in the Ohio River Valley and the Great Lakes region.  Given the limited nature of instability in the region, the threat for severe weather remains limited.
(FORECAST: Cincinnati | Chicago | Kansas City | Minneapolis | Dallas)
Temperatures in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois will generally be in the low 50s to upper 40s, but on the backside of the cold front it’s going to be much colder.
(MORE: October's Increasingly Snowy Reputation)
Parts of the Upper Midwest could have a chilly Halloween as temperatures fall into the low 40s to upper 30s by trick-or-treat time. That chilly air will extend from the Dakotas down into Kansas, but behind the front it will be mostly dry.

Southwest

We’re looking at normal conditions for this time of the year in the Desert Southwest. Although given how dry the air will be, temperatures will cool quickly from afternoon highs in the mid 70s to upper 50s by the time kids head out in their costumes.
(FORECAST: El Paso | Albuquerque | Phoenix | Tucson)

It might be a good idea to snag a light jacket as you head out the door, because once the sun goes down temperatures will drop quickly.

West Coast

Nothing to complain about on the West Coast either. It looks very nice from Southern California up to San Francisco as a ridge begins to building for the latter part of the week.
(MORE: Halloween Week Snowstorm for West, Northern Plains)
Skies will be mostly clear to partly cloudy from Los Angeles to far southern Oregon. Highs will top out in the 70s up and down the California coast, and temperatures will be in the mid to upper 60s later in the evening.
(FORECAST: San Diego | Los Angeles | San Francisco | Portland | Seattle)

A bit further north in central Oregon temperatures will be cooler, especially right along the coast. It would be prudent to take a light jacket in the late evening hours.

The only “issue” weather-wise on the West Coast will be in and around the Olympic Peninsula and the Puget Sound as a few light showers could develop in the afternoon and evening hours. Carry an umbrella, just as a precaution.

Have a Happy Halloween!
MORE: Vintage Halloween

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Circa 1950: A group of men in costume as witches, complete with brooms, to celebrate Halloween, line the staircase of a house. (George Pickow/Three Lions/Getty Images)