Rain, Wind Will Make Halloween a Dark & Stormy Night
Halloween came in with mild temperatures in the 60s but that's expected to drop into the 40s over the weekend.
The forecast lead a number of communities to postpone trick-or-treating until Saturday evening, which is expected to be clearer but colder. See our listings for updates on hours.
This is the first time the candy collection has been postponed since Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.
The National Weather Service is predicting high winds across the state, with wind gusts up 40 mph across Western Mass and in the 50-mph range along the cost. An inch or more of rain will fall overnight. A wind advisory is in effect between 5 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. on Friday.
There is a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms Thursday and damaging winds could cause power outages. Residents are recommended to secure outdoor objects to prevent damage.
The recent mild temperatures will drop overnight as a cold front moves in behind the storm. Accuweather says, "the strengthening circulation from the storm will cause winds to increase over much of the eastern half of the nation and draw moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean."
That means a swath of rainfall up to 3 inches and in some cases, 3 to 5 inches, across the eastern United States and into northern Vermont and New Hampshire.
This isn't the first scary weather for the region. When Hurricane Sandy the area on Oct. 29-30, 2012, it caused school closures and numerous power outages as well as delaying trick-or-treating. The year before, the region was hit with a massive snowstorm on Oct. 29 that dropped some 18 inches over parts the Berkshires. There were a number of cancellations, including Halloween parades and the Drury homecoming dance. Trick-or-treating, however, went on as usual as most of the snow had been cleared by Oct. 31.
#WEATHER: This forecast is downright SPOOKY. A very wet and very windy Halloween forecast. Steadiest rain picking up by 5-6 PM. High: 69°
— NEWS10 ABC (@WTEN) October 31, 2019
Today's FULL Storm Tracker Forecast: https://t.co/LLaUUcxGAP pic.twitter.com/CH9Oo9DFkI
Wet and windy tonight pic.twitter.com/hMZMffiloQ
— Bob Kovachick (@BobKovachick) October 31, 2019
🎃Consider canceling or altering your plans today. Strong thunderstorm winds will lead to falling trees and dangerous lightning. It will not be safe for your little ghouls and goblins as these storms approach.
— National Weather Service (@NWS) October 31, 2019
🌩️DO NOT wait for the rain to start before moving indoors. pic.twitter.com/E0ikSVmd6F
Tags: bad weather, rain, severe weather,
