Some trick-or-treaters in P.E.I. will have to wait an extra night for Halloween festivities as Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement warning that heavy rain and strong winds are expected to hit the Island on Friday.
Charlottetown, Cornwall and Stratford issued a joint statement Thursday morning advising that trick-or-treating would be postponed to Saturday due to the messy weather forecast.
“The safety of our young trick-or-treaters is our top priority,” the release said.
Summerside also announced trick-or-treating in that municipality would take place on Saturday due to the weather forecast.
All four municipalities said the 8 p.m. curfew would still apply on Saturday.
‘Err on the side of caution’
“The information we have, this is going to be a lot of rain, a lot of wind… so we want to err on the side of caution here,” said Corey Frizzell, town councillor and chair of municipal and emergency services for Cornwall.
“I think most people are flexible and they understand.”
Danielle Jesso falls into that camp.
Danielle Jesso says she thinks ‘it’s a good idea’ to postpone Halloween trick-or-treating, considering the weather forecast. She plans to take her daughter, Chloe, out for her first trick-or-treating experience on Saturday. (Ken Linton/CBC)
“Whether it was Thursday, Friday or Saturday, you know, whoever comes to the door was going to get a treat,” the Cornwall resident said. “At the end of the day it’s all about the kids.”
With better weather forecasted for Saturday, Jesso said she’s more likely to take her 10-month-old daughter, Chloe, out for her first trick-or-treating experience — dressed up as Sully, from the Disney-Pixar animated film Monsters, Inc.
Warren Grove has also postponed trick-or-treating to Saturday and, like Jesso, the rural municipality’s mayor said it comes down to what’s best for the kids.
Warren Grove has also postposed trick-or-treating to Saturday, Nov. 1, after other municipalities made the same call. Mayor Noémie Wheatley says there was ‘a lot of argument for both sides, but ultimately it’s about the kids, so if they can have a better experience then we are going to follow suit.’ (Ken Linton/CBC)
“As long as the kids have a good time and everybody’s safe, that’s all that really matters,” Noémie Wheatley said, though she added there was some debate among councillors over the decision.
“We used to trick-or-treat with snowsuits on, etc., so we heard it both ways — but ultimately it just makes it easier…. In the end, if everyone is safe, then there’s really nothing negative about it.”
Elsewhere on P.E.I., both the Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nations moved their trick-or-treating to Thursday evening, ahead of the expected bad weather.
Heaviest rainfall Friday afternoon
Environment Canada warns that rain and strong winds are expected to begin Friday morning and continue into the early evening, with gusts reaching up to 70 kilometers per hour and 30 to 40 millimetres of rainfall possible.
“There remains some uncertainty regarding where the heaviest rainfall will occur, and the potential exists for significant totals in some areas. Warnings may be required,” the special weather statement reads.
CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland said the heaviest rain looks to fall in the afternoon for most areas, and may be torrential at times.
“So, what does this mean for trick-or-treaters in communities going ahead on Friday evening? Well, it’s looking like the heaviest rain and strongest wind should ease up for most areas before the kids head out to start knocking,” he said, noting that it will still be blustery, with scattered showers possible, according to the latest guidance.
CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland’s trick-or-treating weather forecast. (Jay Scotland/CBC)
Scotland said it will be very mild, with temperatures in the low to mid-teens.
As for Saturday, when many trick-or-treaters will now make their rounds, it’s looking like they’ll need to dress warmly.
“There is no heavy rain potential, but there is a scattered shower chance, and it will be cooler and possibly a bit windier at that time, with a strong westerly wind,” Scotland said.
Friday’s forecast is in part due to Hurricane Melissa, which crossed Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday after pummelling Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.
In its statement, Environment Canada advised Islanders to clear storm drains and gutters of leaves and other debris in advance of the rainfall, and to secure outdoor items like Halloween decorations and garbage bins so they don’t blow around in strong winds.
Some smaller communities on the Island announced plans to go ahead with trick-or-treating Friday, while others also postponed to Saturday.
Residents can check with their local municipal council to confirm the plan in their community.
