Halloween Heatwave: Northeast Sees Unprecedented Temperatures

As Halloween approaches, forecasters are predicting record-high temperatures in the Northeast, with New York City potentially hitting 80 degrees. This unexpected warmth will make the holiday feel more like summer than autumn, as a heatwave continues to sweep across the region.

While children prepare to don their costumes and go trick-or-treating on Thursday, the weather will be uncharacteristically warm, reminiscent of Labor Day rather than the traditional chills of Halloween. Major cities across the Northeast are poised to break high-temperature records for October 31, with New York City leading the way.

In addition to NYC, Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C., are all expected to surpass the 80-degree mark. Even northern cities like Burlington, Vermont, and Bangor, Maine, will see temperatures reaching 76 degrees. To the south, Charleston, South Carolina, may hit 84 degrees, while Raleigh, North Carolina, is predicted to reach 81 degrees.

This warm spell is remarkable when compared to last year’s Halloween, when temperatures in New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston languished in the low 50s. However, this balmy weather will be short-lived, as a strong cold front is forecast to sweep through the Northeast on Friday afternoon, bringing a swift end to the record heat.

Looking ahead to the New York City Marathon on Sunday, the forecast predicts a high of only 57 degrees. The incoming cold front is also expected to bring rain and snow to parts of the Great Lakes and upper Midwest, with a winter weather advisory in effect for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, indicating possible measurable snow.

While the Northeast enjoys unusually warm weather, the summit of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in Hawaii received several inches of snow, making it look like a winter wonderland. Meanwhile, Colorado is battling wildfires while simultaneously expecting a major winter storm that could dump up to a foot of fresh snow in the Rockies. This weather pattern contrasts sharply with the record-breaking warmth seen across much of the country, from Detroit’s 77 degrees to Laredo, Texas, where temperatures are forecast to hit 94, tying a daily record.A heatwave is set to bring record-high temperatures to the Northeast this Halloween, with cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston forecasted to reach the 80s, marking a stark contrast to last year's chilly weather. A cold front is expected to follow, bringing a swift end to the warmth.