Thursday, October 30, 2014

Forecasts for Four of America's Thrilling Halloween Haunts

By Michael Kuhne, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
October 30,2014; 10:48PM,EDT
 
 
In the twilight hours of Oct. 31, just before the land is cast into darkness, millions of Americans will venture from the inviting warmth of their homes to roam the streets in search of exciting Halloween festivities. Whether you're touring a haunted prison with friends or fleeing a phantom wayfarer along a forlorn, country roadside, fall weather can be just as bone-chilling.
While a blast of cold air and the potential for snow will highlight the weather for millions in the Eastern states this Halloween, visitors to some of America's largest Halloween attractions will see more pleasant conditions Friday, which will carry into the evening hours.
Take a look at four U.S. Halloween attractions and their weather forecasts in order to prepare for the holiday.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Located on the grounds of the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia and barricaded within the confines of inescapable, towering walls, the "Terror Behind the Walls" event is one of the most popular attractions in the country for daring guests seeking a frightening Halloween night. All proceeds garnered from the haunted attraction are used in the preservation of the penitentiary, which is considered a national historic landmark, and operates year round.
"Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world but stands today in ruin, a lost world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers," according to the landmark's press office. "This gothic structure, with soaring 30-foot-high fortress walls, is intimidating enough during the day. At night, the cellblocks fall into darkness, and the building becomes truly terrifying."
(Photo/ John Van Horn - Eastern State Penitentiary)
Tales of ghostly occurrences at Eastern State Penitentiary, which opened in 1829, have been common among guards, inmates and visitors, prompting an average of 60 paranormal investigation teams to visit the structure each year.
For those spending Halloween in the City of Brotherly Love, there will be an increase in clouds, but the region will remain dry for much of the day into the evening hours.
"Any showers should hold off until after midnight," AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Carl Erickson said.
Temperatures will remain in the high 50s into the afternoon before slowly dropping to near 50 F by midnight.
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Salem, Massachusetts

The city of Salem, Massachusetts, is now known for witchcraft and the infamous mass hysteria, trials and executions that swept over several towns across the colonial Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1692 and 1693.
Although the Salem Witch Museum is open year round to educate the public on one of the darkest times in the region's history, Halloween in Salem is a month-long celebration of the fall season. Salem's Haunted Happenings festivities blend the city's rich history and landmarks with tours, attractions and dining. It is also home to the month-long Festival of the Dead.
Within the town, visitors can travel to The House of the Seven Gables, which inspired author Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1851 tale of the same name. Hawthorne, the author of the Salem Village-based short story "Young Goodman Brown," was the descendant of Salem Witch Trial Judge John Hathorne.
For those celebrating Samhain and the fall season in Salem, Halloween will offer intervals of clouds and sunshine throughout the day with a high of 53 F in the afternoon.
"It will remain dry through most of the night as any shower activity should hold off until closer to daybreak Saturday morning," Erickson said.
Temperatures will fall to around 50 F at sunset, then slowly drop into the middle 40s by midnight.

Sleepy Hollow, New York

Similar to Salem, Sleepy Hollow, New York, conjures its own unique, American vision of the supernatural, inspired by Washington Irving's 1820 tale, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The ghostly shadow haunting the small village is the spirit of an infamous, decapitated Revolutionary War era solider known as the Headless Horseman. In a nightly quest, the Horseman returns to the battleground in search of his lost head.
Sleepy Hollow, which celebrates the Halloween season for the duration of October, is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, approximately 25 miles north of New York City. The month-long celebration offers visitors a variety of attractions, live musical performances, historical landmarks and other frightening events to capture the terror that befell poor schoolmaster Ichabod Crane from Irving's story.
After many years of consideration, Sleepy Hollow became the official name of North Tarrytown, New York, in 1996, according to the village's website.
One of the village's main Halloween attractions is the Horseman's Hollow in which the historic Philipsburg Manor is transformed into a chilling scene shadowed by the Horseman himself.
"This event is not suitable for small children or the timid, but it is Sleepy Hollow's premier haunted attraction, right in the heart of the village," according to event's website.
For those roaming the historic grounds of the infamous Horseman's lair, a shower may pass through the area later in the evening, but much of the day will remain dry.
Temperatures will remain in the middle 50s for the afternoon before slowly sinking into the upper 40s for most of the night.
"Not much in the way of rain expected overnight, but there can be a spotty shower late, especially after 9 p.m.," Erickson said.
Find out when the rain will fall in Sleepy Hollow by checking out AccuWeather MinuteCast®.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Considered by many to be the most haunted city in America, the culture and history of New Orleans provide visitors with a unique venue for a variety of exciting Halloween attractions and celebrations, only rivaled in scope by the city's Mardi Gras festivities.
Whether you're attending the three-day Voodoo Music and Arts Experience or touring the historic haunts of the French Quarter and Garden District, New Orleans offers visitors plenty of Halloween festivities.
(Thinkstock/istock)
As the night progresses, the city's Halloween celebrations will converge on Frenchmen Street in the Faubourg Marigny.
"Throngs of partygoers, including locals and tourists, take to the streets in their elaborate and frequently outlandish outfits," according to the city's tourism website.
Those spending Halloween on the streets of The Big Easy will see dry weather with plenty of sunshine during the day and clear skies at night.
Temperatures will remain around 75 F before dropping into the upper 60s around sunset. Temperatures will sink into the 50s around midnight with lows in the high 40s by daybreak.

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