A potentially spooky Halloween weather outlook for Prince Edward Island is being closely watched, with the most recent special weather advisory from Environment Canada now indicating a somewhat favorable trend for trick-or-treaters this Friday.
Anticipated conditions for October 31 include rain and strong winds, with the timeframe now projected from midday Friday until the evening. Wind gusts could peak between 70 to 80 kilometers per hour, accompanied by an expected rainfall of 30 to 50 millimeters, as outlined by Environment Canada.
While uncertainty lingers about the exact areas likely to experience the heaviest downpour, some locations may receive significant rainfall amounts, possibly necessitating weather warnings, according to the advisory.
In response to the anticipated inclement weather, Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nations have rescheduled their Halloween festivities to Thursday. Conversely, Mount Stewart plans to proceed with Halloween on schedule, with provisions in place to offer indoor trick-or-treating at the community center to avoid the unfavorable weather conditions.
Summerside City has confirmed that Halloween activities will progress as planned, with ongoing monitoring of the weather forecast and coordination with emergency services and neighboring municipalities. Any updates or changes will be promptly communicated to the public and media channels.
Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden specified that there are no current plans to reschedule trick-or-treating in the town, emphasizing the importance of safety measures such as wearing bright colors, driving cautiously, donning waterproof attire, and ensuring young children are accompanied by adults.
The adverse weather patterns are partially attributed to Hurricane Melissa, which recently crossed Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane and is anticipated to align parallel to Nova Scotia by Friday. Concurrently, another storm originating from Quebec is complicating the forecast, potentially intensifying rainfall on Prince Edward Island due to the convergence of these weather systems.
Despite uncertainties surrounding the Halloween night forecast, meteorologist Jay Scotland noted the possibility of enhanced rainfall due to the convergence of the two weather systems. Environment Canada advises Islanders to proactively clear storm drains and secure outdoor items in preparation for the anticipated weather conditions.