'if the trick-or-treaters hold off a little bit, things look pretty good,' says nova scotia meteorologist
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a person walks past a halloween display in front of a north street home in halifax on wednesday. a severe weather system is expected to hit nova scotia on halloween friday.
tim krochak
weather conditions may not be scary for many halloween trick-or-treaters across nova scotia on friday night, says meteorologist cindy day.
the severe weather system tracking for friday is pulling moisture from the remnants of hurricane melissa. it will bring rainfall amounts between 30 and 50 millimetres and wind gusts of up to 70 km/h to much of the province. parts of inverness county could see winds as high as 100 km/h on friday night.
day said the timing of the weather event is favourable for trick-or-treating in the halifax region, yarmouth, the south shore and the western half of the annapolis valley.
“it’s going to be pretty intense, but the timing looks pretty good in this area for halloween,” said day, whose weather website can be found at cindyday.ca.
“it’s tracking through very quickly, so precipitation will probably start around sunrise in halifax, and i think it will be letting up around 6 p.m. if the trick-or-treaters hold off a little bit, things look pretty good.”
day said the rain is going to come quickly because of the tropical injection to the bottom of the trough. she expects the heaviest rainfall and most significant wind will occur between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. the temperatures are expected to be mild, between 15 and 17 c.
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“i would say in a few hours we could get 40-50 millimetres,” she said. “the wind with the rain, southeast gusting 50-60 (km/h) very easily. then just in time for the ghosts and goblins, the rain tapers off to showers around the supper hour, that wind really drops off, and it is going to be a good six- or seven-hour lull before it picks up again on saturday.”
day said the conditions aren’t as favourable east of halifax, particularly for cape breton’s halloween revelers.
“it’s not looking good in cape breton, with very strong winds around the supper hour and beyond. there will be wind warnings issued, i’m sure,” said day.
“inverness county will have gusts of 100 (km/h) from 6 to 10 p.m. that’s dangerous to be out in. the combination of the wind and the rain will be really nasty for cape breton for the evening on friday, for sure.”
kim masland, the province’s minister of emergency management, called for trick-or-treaters to exercise caution in the inclement weather.
“we know how much kids look forward to dressing up and collecting treats,” said masland in a news release. “with heavy rain and wind, we want to make sure that kids stay safe on this exciting day. so hold onto your hats and walk carefully with an adult.
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“the candy will taste all the sweeter when everyone is safe. whether you’re trick-or-treating outside or celebrating indoors, i hope everyone has a fun and safe halloween.”
calls to change trick-or-treat date
with the storm threat, some calls to change the date for trick-or-treating popped up on social media.
a post by a member of the sambro and area community association facebook page asked residents if the date could be changed to thursday. the post received mixed results.
a reddit post asked a similar question, but the majority of respondents said they would brave the conditions friday.
the halifax regional municipality did not immediately respond to a question about whether it has considered moving the trick-or-treat date due to the weather.
with cape breton expected to get hit hard, eskasoni, membertou and louisdale moved trick or treating to thursday night.
the cape breton regional municipality has not announced a change in its halloween plans.
advice for trick-or-treaters
there are ways for parents and children to weather the storm friday:
- a clear rain poncho can protect a costume without hiding it. layering is the key to staying warm in cold rain.
- choose a costume that can accommodate boots instead of light shoes, and pick a full-body option with a hood to protect against wind and cold.
- to avoid tripping, hemlines and accessories should be kept well off the ground to prevent falls on wet, slippery surfaces.
- stick hand warmers in gloves, socks and pockets. a small towel can also be helpful for drying off.
- look both ways before crossing the street and use crosswalks whenever possible.
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enhancing visibility
- to enhance visibility for motorists on a dark and rainy night, trick-or-treaters can use reflective gear.
- flashlights and glow sticks are also useful to increase visibility.
- avoid masks that obstruct vision.
planning a safe route
- stick to well-lit sidewalks and only approach homes that have their porch light on.
- look out for puddles, wet leaves and windblown debris. don’t cut across lawns, as the wet ground can hide uneven terrain.
- always travel with an adult, or in a group for older children.
- motorists should drive slower than usual, especially in residential areas, as it takes longer to stop in wet conditions.
- inclement weather may result in community halloween events being cancelled; people should check for updates in their area.
- to monitor potential dangerous weather conditions, go to the ns alert app.
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