Will Rain Wash Out Your Halloween? Here’s the Latest Forecast

Halloween weekend is here. What does Mother Nature have up her sleeve for all of the festivities? Here is a look at where the weather will deliver treats and where you may be dealing with more tricks.

Southern Plains and Midwest in Store for Soggy Halloween

As is typical for the end of October, the weather will vary widely across the U.S. this weekend. Several regions are bracing for a soggy weekend as multiple storm systems push across the western U.S., the Midwest, and the Southeast. Only the mid-Atlantic, the northern Plains, the Upper Midwest, and the Northeast will enjoy clear conditions for the holiday.

The biggest trouble spots heading into the Halloween weekend will come from a surge of tropical moisture filtering up from the Eastern Pacific and into the central U.S. Texas will continue to be ground zero for this moisture stream through Friday. Widespread rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches will be the story for much of the Lone Star State by the time that the precipitation begins to ease on Saturday. Temperatures will hover about 10 to 20 degrees above average for some parts of the state.

Thunderstorms could roam the zone from South Texas and into the central Gulf Coast, particularly on Friday and Saturday. San Antonio, Houston, and New Orleans will all want to be aware of this threat. The heavy rain over the last few days across the southern Plains and south-central U.S. could raise the risk of flash flooding.

The rain that is impacting the southern Plains to close out the week will move to the north and into the Midwest on Saturday. Light rain showers could put a damper on the festivities on Saturday across portions of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. Major cities such as Minneapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee should also not rule out the chance of spotty rain showers.

Unseasonably warm temperatures will continue to rule the forecast for much of the Midwest and the Ohio Valley, with highs hovering in the 70s. Temperatures typically top out in the 50s by the end of October in this part of the country. This warmth is forecast to persist into early November.

Perfect Fall Weather for Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

The Northeast and the mid-Atlantic will be the overall best spots for festivities this weekend. Dry conditions and mild temperatures will encourage outdoor fun. Overnight temperatures will fall into the 40s, making it important to dress in layers for trick-or-treating. The large system impacting the central U.S. will track to this part of the East Coast by Sunday, ushering in a dramatic change in the weather.

Moving to the Southeast, rain showers could roam the region on Saturday, particularly in areas closest to the Mississippi Valley. Isolated portions of Georgia and Alabama could pick up 2 to 3 inches of rain out of this weather maker. A Level 1 flash flood threat has been issued for Louisiana and to the east into southern Georgia and Mississippi. Like much of the rest of the southern tier of the nation, temperatures will trend warmer than usual for the weekend.

What About the West Coast?

The Pacific Northwest is expecting seasonable temperatures with highs in the 50s and sporadic light rain. A storm brewing in the Pacific will impact the southwestern U.S. beginning late Friday and persisting into Halloween. The moisture associated with this system will also impact parts of California, the Intermountain West, and the Four Corners region.

While Los Angeles and San Diego typically see dry weather on Halloween, this may not be the case this year. Moderate to heavy rain could hit Southern California by Saturday, potentially putting holiday plans in jeopardy.

Lastly, the Hawaiian Islands may still be recovering from the heavy rain dumped across the tropics as Tropical Rainstorm Olana moved through paradise. While the moisture stream will let up by Saturday, flooding may continue to present problems.

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