Northeast Ohio residents heading out for Halloween festivities on Friday evening will find conditions that are more treat than trick. Forecasters expect mostly cloudy skies across the region, paired with mild temperatures that should sit in the lower 50s for most areas during the evening's fun.
While the bulk of neighborhoods are expected to stay dry through trick-or-treating hours, a sprinkle or two cannot be completely ruled out. The best chance for any light rain will be in the region's southern and western communities, where isolated shower chances increase, especially after midnight. Families in those areas may want to keep an extra layer or umbrella close at hand, but most costumes should make it home without dodging raindrops.
The cool air will not linger for long. Even as clocks fall back an hour this weekend, temperatures are set to spring ahead. Sunday turns warmer, and that warming trend is expected to carry the region into the start of November. Highs will make another run toward 70 degrees, and any significant rain is expected to hold off until the middle or end of next week.
Forecasters say rain should stay away until at least Wednesday, with heavier rain looking more likely by mid to late week. In other words, Halloween may deliver a couple of tricks, but November appears to have a few treats waiting.
The weekend also brings the twice-yearly time change. At 2 am on Sunday, clocks move back one hour, meaning 1 am will happen twice overnight. The shift brings earlier sunrises but also earlier sunsets. On Sunday, the sun will rise at 6:58 am and set at 5:21 pm.
Looking at the five-day outlook, Sunday is expected to be warmer with an isolated shower possible and a high near 70 degrees. Monday stays mostly cloudy with only a slim chance of a shower, again topping out around 70. Tuesday turns mostly cloudy and warm, with a high near 74 degrees.
By Wednesday, rain begins moving in under mostly cloudy skies, with highs near 73 degrees. Thursday brings more rain, along with the possibility of thunder and heavy downpours, as highs cool to around 67 degrees.
The News 5 Power of 5 Weather Team divides Northeast Ohio into five regions to deliver hyper-local forecasts: the Cleveland Metro Region covering Cuyahoga County; the Snowbelt Region covering Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties; the Akron-Canton Region covering Summit, Stark and Portage Counties; the West Region covering Lorain, Medina, Erie, Huron, Richland and Ashland Counties; and the South Region covering Wayne, Holmes, Tuscarawas and Carroll Counties.
Residents in the Akron-Canton area, including Akron, Canton, Hudson and Ravenna, fall within the region that could see some of the isolated shower activity later Friday night, though widespread rain is not expected to spoil the holiday.
