Wild Weather Setup for Halloween

Severe Weather Threat, Image: SPC NOAA

The panhandle of Florida is under a tornado watch this morning. A warm and tropical air mass is colliding with cold air over the Southeastern United States, bringing a chance for heavy rain and severe thunderstorms. Here’s the TV forecast from Panama City, Florida.

The warm air stays in place over the deep South until Halloween morning.

Thursday, Warm East, Cold West, Image: Unisys Weather

Look at the setup for this Thursday over the US. The West Coast feels the big chill set in, while warm air travels as far north as Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. This is in advance of a strong cold front that will usher in cooler temps on the East Coast just in time for Halloween!

Cooler Air Travels East for Halloween, Image: NOAA

While the cold air unexpectedly swings eastward, forcing costume goers across the East Coast to cover themselves in heavy coats and shawls,  I can just imagine the skimpy costumes you’ll see in Las Vegas and Phoenix because of the warm air that will settle in Halloween night.

This is the time of year when we expect wild swings in the weather… and you can see from the two maps above, we are getting it!

-Dawn Brown