Climate Matters•October 23, 2024
Halloween Extremes and Warming October Nights
KEY CONCEPTS
Fall temperatures have warmed by 2.5°F on average across the U.S. since 1970.
Fall warming can disrupt leaf-peeping and extend allergy and wildfire smoke seasons.
Warming has also taken the chill out of a favorite fall tradition: trick-or-treating.
October nights have warmed in 216 U.S. cities (89% of 242 analyzed) — by 3.3°F on average since 1970.
Graphics also show each city’s record warmest, coldest, and rainiest Halloween.
Download local data
METHODOLOGY
October minimum temperatures from 1970 to 2023 were obtained from the Applied Climate Information System (ACIS). Local Halloween climate extremes were also retrieved from ACIS, but included each station’s entire period of record.
Climate Central's local analyses include 247 stations, however only 242 stations are included in reported data summaries based on linear trends due to data gaps in Bend, Ore.; Dothan, Ala.; Hazard, Ky.; and Clarksburg and Wheeling, W.Va.