Cold, gloomy night perfect for Halloween
A gloomy night awaits trick-or-treaters as recent fine weather gives way to funereal skies for Halloween.
The nearly-full, evening-rising moon — which would otherwise provide some welcome illumination for kids on their candy rounds — should be obscured by thick grey clouds.
A strong high pressure ridge that has given Penticton bright blue skies and mild temperatures will be dislodged, beginning this morning, by a colder system from the northwest.
And here’s something really scary — snow later in the week!
“It’s going to be cloudy (Tuesday), and the precipitation is going to come lower and lower as the day wears on,” Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist said Monday.
The Okanagan forecast is for a 60 per cent chance of showers Tuesday afternoon, turning to steady rain. But the rain may not come in Penticton until late Tuesday night, Lundquist said.
“I’m hoping most of the rain will hold off until the kids are done trick-or-treating,” he said.
Late afternoon and evening early temperatures are predicted to be around 6 C.
Grey conditions will persist through the rest of the week, with steadily cooler daytime highs. By Friday, the temperature will struggle to get above freezing, and a high of just -2 C is forecast for Sunday.
“We’ll definitely get snow in the Valley bottom later this week, which is about three or so weeks earlier than usual,” Lundquist said. “If you haven’t got your winter tires on yet, now would be a good time.”
The long-range outlook from The Weather Network is for drier and sunnier conditions next week, but highs of only around 3 C, about five degrees below normal for early November.