Trick-or-treating in shorts? Warm Halloween on tap for many across the US
Forecast models show that much of the eastern half of the nation will experience temperatures in the 60s and 70s on Halloween, with cooler air bottled up over the Rockies and Upper Midwest.
Millions to feel hot Halloween highs for trick-or-treating
It's Halloween, but for over 200 million people, it certainly won't feel like it as summer-like warmth is in place across the eastern half of the country.
The FOX Forecast Center is advising trick-or-treaters that regions usually known for their crisp autumn air may instead feel like they’re experiencing the early days of the season, with temperatures significantly above average.
Forecast models show that much of the eastern half of the nation will experience temperatures in the 60s and 70s on Halloween, with cooler air bottled up over the Rockies and Upper Midwest.
In the Northeast, cities such as Boston and New York are expecting daytime highs in the mid- to upper 70s. Temperatures will likely fall to near 70 degrees after sunset, providing a stark contrast to the usual chilly holiday evenings.
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Those daytime high temperatures could also break records. As the temperatures rise Thursday, cities in the mid-Atlantic through northern New England could see records fall.
The situation will be much the same across the South, with communities across the Gulf Coast expecting daytime temperatures in the 80s with little in the way of a cooldown during the early-evening hours.
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In the Midwest and Great Lakes, the weather forecast is a bit more eerie with a cold front that will be traversing the region on the night of frights.
Cities such as Chicago and Detroit will be held down into the 60s due to increased cloud cover and the potential for scattered showers, but those far enough away from the frontal boundary, such as St. Louis and Cincinnati, are expected to reach the 70s.
Cities behind the frontal boundary will largely experience temperatures in the mid-40s to the 50s, including Green Bay and Minneapolis.
In the West, temperatures may be fairly pleasant on Oct. 31, with highs in the 60s and 70s for major cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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October finishes as dry, warm for many
The continued warmth through the end of October will ensure that most of the country finishes the month with one of the warmest and driest Octobers in memory.
Weather observation sites from the Northwest through the Plains and into the Northeast are all reporting their top-10 warmest Octobers on record, with only really the Southeast immune to the record heat.
Precipitation maps show a similar picture, with those experiencing a warm month also seeing a dry month.
![October temperature rankings across U.S.]()
Image 1 of 2October temperature rankings across U.S. (Regional Climate Center)
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Image 2 of 2October precipitation rankings across U.S. (Regional Climate Center)
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, 80% of the country is unusually dry and nearly 50% is officially in drought conditions.
The dry weather has led to wildfire concerns as far north as Connecticut and Massachusetts, meaning that the classic barn fire may be out of the picture, at least for this Halloween.
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Despite the warm weather forecast, families across the country are still preparing to hand out plenty of candy and host haunted houses.
According to the National Confectioners Association, consumers are to buy at least $6.5 billion in confectionery treats for the holiday.
But a scary statistic for trick-or-treaters – more than half of Americans started enjoying their candy stash well before Oct. 31.
The most popular candies on most wish lists are M&Ms, Reese’s Cups, Sour Patch Kids and Skittles.