PEI·NewAll eyes are on a potentially ghoulish weather forecast for Halloween on P.E.I., but the latest special weather statement from Environment Canada has shifted slightly in favour of trick-or-treating on Friday.Weather has shifted slightly in favour of trick-or-treating FridayMarilee Devries · CBC News · Posted: Oct 29, 2025 4:25 PM EDT | Last Updated: 30 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesStrong winds and rain are currently in the Halloween weather forecast for Prince Edward Island. (Jane Robertson/CBC)All eyes are on a potentially ghoulish Halloween weather forecast for P.E.I., but the latest special weather statement from Environment Canada has shifted slightly in favour of trick-or-treating on Friday.The weather agency said rain and strong winds are expected on Oct. 31, with the time span now forecast to be near midday Friday until the evening.Potential wind gusts could reach 70 to 80 kilometers per hour, and 30 to 50 milimetres of rain could fall, Environment Canada said.“There remains some uncertainty regarding where the heaviest rainfall will occur; however, the potential exists for significant totals in some areas. Warnings may be required,” the statement reads. Some municipalities reschedule trick-or-treatingBoth the Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nations have moved trick-or-treating to Thursday due to the expected bad weather. Meanwhile in Mount Stewart, Halloween will happen on schedule — but Mayor Amanda Myers said there are plans to open the community centre for those who would rather not be outside.“Going door to door didn’t seem like the best idea, so we just decided if we open up our community centre we can just set out some tables and everybody can do their best to trick-or-treat inside where it’s nice and dry,” Myers said.In a statement to CBC News, the City of Summerside said “Halloween trick-or-treating will continue as planned. We continue to speak with our neighbouring municipalities, our emergency services and are in constant review of the ever-changing weather forecast.”If plans change, the statement said, the city will advise the media and public as soon as possible.Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden told CBC News that there is currently no plan to reschedule trick-or-treating in the town.Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden says the plan is for Halloween trick-or-treating in the town to go on as usual on Oct. 31. (Aaron Adetuyi/CBC)“I don’t think it matters what we do, there are people that will go out on [Friday] night,” he said. “And if it’s the night before or the night after, then it creates problems for people that wouldn’t know about it and having strangers knock on their door…. If you’re a senior or somebody that really is not expecting visitors, it can be kind of difficult and disconcerting.”Ogden reminded people to put safety first by wearing bright colours, driving slowly, wearing waterproof gear and making sure younger children are accompanied by adults.Hurricane Melissa partly to blameThe bad weather 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. According to the National Hurricane Centre, Melissa will be parallel with Nova Scotia by Friday.But there is another storm making its way eastward from Quebec, and CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland said that’s complicating the forecast.”Its associated front may tap into some tropical moisture as Melissa passes by the Maritimes well out to sea,” he said. “Even though there is no direct impact anticipated here from Hurricane Melissa, the alignment of these two weather systems could enhance rainfall here on P.E.I.”WATCH | The conditions that fuelled Melissa:Hurricane Melissa: a case study in a changing hurricane eraHurricane Melissa’s Category 5 winds tore into western Jamaica Tuesday morning, marking one of the most powerful Atlantic landfalls ever recorded. CBC’s Johanna Wagstaffe looks at how Melissa may be part of a new hurricane era: storms fuelled by record-warm seas and slowed by a shifting jet stream.The forecast for Halloween night is still subject to change, said Scotland, particularly when it comes to the timing. “It’s still a bit too early to say if the heaviest rain will occur during the trick-or-treat hours, or ease to lighter showers before Friday evening.”In its latest 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 such as Halloween decorations and garbage bins so they don’t blow around in strong winds. ABOUT THE AUTHORMarilee Devries is a journalist with CBC P.E.I. She has a journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She can be reached at marilee.devries@cbc.caWith files from Connor Lamont
Frightful forecast could impact Halloween in P.E.I. with special weather statement in effect
