Rain and snow are forecast

When it comes to the weather forecast for Halloween, it's more trick than fun.

Given the unseasonable warmth of September and October, trick-or-treaters might have expected to forego coats or layers, but Mother Nature has an eerie forecast that includes a word we haven't seen lately: snow.

But first let's talk about temperatures.

“Despite the warm weather we had, we arrived at the Minneapolis-St. even 80 degrees. Paul International Airport on Tuesday — temperatures will cool down pretty drastically tomorrow, especially around trick-or-treating time,” Brennan Dettmann, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Twin Cities office, said Wednesday.

“We expect temperatures in the mid to upper 30 degree range,” said Dettmann about Thursday’s forecast.

The expected gusts of wind could make it even cooler, says Dettmann, which is why trick-or-treaters should bring out the mittens and warm socks.

“The most important thing when trick-or-treating is to add an extra layer or two to account for the cold,” says Dettmann.

We may need umbrellas on Thursday too.

“Another thing people need to keep an eye on is the possibility of precipitation,” Dettmann said. “It will rain heavily tonight until tomorrow morning.

“As temperatures cool, there is a chance of a snow mix there too. That includes the Twin Cities – that’s more true in the morning.”

Because the ground is still so warm, Dettmann says the current forecast doesn't expect much accumulation.

This wasn't the case last year if you remember the specter of Halloween past: The first measurable snowfall of the season in 2023 occurred as Halloween approached, dumping a horrific 2.7 inches of the white stuff on the track Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – with 1.8 inches of it collapsing on October 31 itself.

However, the morning commute to work could be difficult again on Halloween.

“The snow that would fall would likely fall during the morning commute,” says Dettmann, “so people should be aware of that when they go outside tomorrow.”