By Linda Weiford, WSU News
PULLMAN, Wash. – An autumn storm system will blow into the Pacific Northwest on Halloween like an angry spirit.
Though trick-or-treaters and holiday revelers will want to hold on to their witches hats and Minion goggles as wind and rain pelt much of the region, at least temperatures will be mild, said meteorologist Nic Loyd of Washington State University’s AgWeatherNet.
“The ‘ghoulish’ weather will be a rather stark contrast to the pleasant conditions we’ve experienced for most of October,” he said. “Fortunately, temperatures will be well above normal.”
A storm front riding a strong jet stream off the Pacific is expected to anchor itself over Washington, Oregon and Idaho by Saturday morning, with wind and rain intensifying in the afternoon, he explained. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph are predicted throughout much of Washington, with gusts in the mountains exceeding 50 mph.
The storm will also deposit a vast swath of showers and drizzle. While communities in the eastern part of the state are likely to see intermittent rainfall, those on the west side will probably experience more steady exposure, said Loyd.
Despite the windy soak, temperatures should be warm enough to grow candy corn. Pullman’s Halloween high is expected to hit 61 degrees and its nighttime low 48. Considering that the normal high is 52 and the low 34, “temperature-wise, we’re talking about a pretty big variance,” Loyd said. “Trick-or-treaters might need umbrellas but they won’t need heavy coats.”
“Frankenstorm” should taper off on Sunday, giving way to a week of weather that’s drier but also considerably cooler, he said.
Contacts:
Nic Loyd, WSU meteorologist, 509-786-9357, nicholas.loyd@wsu.edu
Linda Weiford, WSU News, 509-335-7209, linda.weiford@wsu.edu