Rain showers are expected across the Inland Empire this Halloween weekend, according to the National Weather Service's Halloween weekend rain forecast, though the agency says the precipitation won't be intense. Showers are likely to begin Friday night or Saturday morning and continue periodically through Sunday night, with the heaviest totals expected at higher elevations.
Halloween Weekend Rain Forecast: Timing and Totals
A dip in the jet stream is expected to pull moisture from a storm system currently sitting over the Pacific Northwest down into Southern California by Friday. That moisture will set the stage for rain across the region just as Halloween festivities get underway for families in the Inland Empire.
The National Weather Service said the chance of measurable rain will grow with each passing day, with the best odds for heavier totals arriving over the weekend. From Saturday morning through Sunday night, the agency puts the chance of 1 inch or more of rainfall at better than 40% for areas stretching from the coast to the mountains. Higher elevations are expected to see the largest amounts.
Will It Rain on Halloween Night?
For families planning trick-or-treat routes, the most direct question is simple: will it rain on Halloween? Friday itself is expected to start mostly dry, with rain Halloween night becoming more likely as the evening wears on and the storm system moves closer to the region.
Saturday and Sunday carry the greater risk of steady, periodic showers, meaning Halloween trick or treat weather on Friday night should hold up better than conditions later in the weekend. Parents and kids heading out after dark may want to keep an umbrella or rain jacket handy just in case, especially in neighborhoods at higher elevation where totals are expected to run heavier.
Why Tropical Storm Vance Isn't a Concern
Some residents may have seen headlines about Tropical Storm Vance and wondered whether it could add to the weekend's wet weather. Forecasters say it won't.
The National Hurricane Center reported Monday that Vance was tracking just south of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, with sustained winds exceeding 50 mph. The storm is expected to make landfall near Mazatlán on Friday before weakening and curving toward southwestern Texas, keeping it well clear of Southern California.
Cooler Temperatures to Accompany the Storm
Along with the rain, the Inland Empire should brace for a noticeable chill. Temperatures are expected to drop 10 to 15 degrees below normal by Friday as the storm system moves in, and the cooler-than-usual air is forecast to linger into early next week.
That means jackets may be just as useful as umbrellas for anyone out celebrating Halloween weekend, whether at a costume party, a pumpkin patch or a neighborhood trick-or-treat walk.
Looking Ahead to Next Week
Dry weather and more seasonable temperatures are expected to return early next week. For now, the Halloween weekend rain forecast points to a wetter-than-usual stretch for the Inland Empire, with the clearest skies likely earlier in the weekend and the better chances for rain building Saturday into Sunday.
Residents with outdoor plans, from school carnivals to candy routes through local streets, may want to keep a close eye on timing and have a backup plan ready in case showers arrive earlier or heavier than expected.