Coming in the middle of fall, Halloween has historically been a mixed bag for the Columbia Basin. Most weather conditions (except extreme heat) are possible this time of year – my dad even remembers a bit of snow one Halloween growing up in Finley.
For Halloween 2022, trick or treaters and their parental entourage should be prepared for breezy conditions and light rain. Some in the Columbia Basin are likely to see these conditions around the evening hours, but exactly who depends on one crucial variable.
A cold front is forecast to sweep through the Pacific Northwest heading southeast. The map above, from the NWS Weather Prediction Center, shows the front just starting to reach into the Olympic Peninsula at 05:00 Monday. What time it reaches the Columbia Basin will determine what weather conditions trick or treaters see on the evening.
Before the front’s arrival, breezy southwesterly winds are likely. Thanks to the Horse Heaven Hills, the Tri-Cities and Prosser might miss out on this activity as the terrain helps the wind sort of bounce over the area. Hermiston and others won’t be as lucky. Gusts will only be to 20 mph or so, but that could certainly cause problems for costumes.
The front may reach the Tri-Cities as early as 18:00 with light rain. Steady precipitation will only last for an hour or two, but if it comes in early this is during prime trick or treating time. Some models do hold this off until closer to 22:00, and I lean to somewhere in the middle.
Once the rain stops, breezy westerlies kick in (and won’t skip over the Tri-Cities). Similar to the prefrontal southwesterlies, the wind will only gust to about 20 mph but will again be problematic for some costume wearers.
If the front comes in on the early side of things, the breeze will likely kick in before trick or treating ends. If it comes in toward the middle or end of the expected range, this won’t be a problem.
My advice is to be prepared for breezy and wet conditions, but watching the radar could prove useful for figuring out where the cold front is and how fast it is moving. You can check the radar by following this link. I won’t be providing updates because I will be out chaperoning my own two year old’s trick or treating excursion.
