Snow and sleet will be the new trick-or-treat this Halloween.
Costumed candy-seekers will likely have to brave record-breaking snowfall, windy and unseasonably cold conditions for the holiday.
As of Wednesday, models show Thursday will be washout, with rain and snow both expected. The day is set to start with rain, which will likely transition to snow heading into the late-morning and afternoon hours.
The system will leave behind accumulations ranging from 5 inches in far northwest suburbs to 1 to 2 inches closer to the lake and in the city.
Measurable #snow has fallen on #Halloween in #Chicago only one time. That was 2014, and it was only 0.1". A trace fell 6 other times. So if our forecast holds, this will be the "snowiest" Halloween in Chicago history... #ILwx @nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/Z9qqSSwEK2
— Paul Deanno (@PaulDeannoNBC5) October 30, 2019
Highs Thursday are expected to sit in the low- to mid-30s, though blustery winds will make it feel much colder.
Several suburbs have already rescheduled trick-or-treating hours due to the wintry conditions.
The weather on Halloween varies greatly year to year, particularly when it comes to temperatures. And recently, it’s featured quite a bit of rain.
According to the National Weather Service, normal temperatures for the last week of October sit in the mid- to upper-50s with lows in the mid- to upper-30s.
The average high for Oct. 31 is 56 degrees.
The record for snowfall on Halloween in Chicago was set in 2014, when a tenth of an inch was recorded in the city. That record is expected to be broken this year.
