Autumn’s warm embrace: how rising temperatures are affecting Halloween

In Houston, Texas, Eduardo and Mary Reyes recently took their children, 7-year-old Leonardo and 3-year-old Lorelei, to a pumpkin patch where temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees. While some children opted for lighter clothing, Lorelei donned an Elsa costume from “Frozen” and Leonardo chose a velociraptor outfit.

“I want to say if it was a costume with a long sleeve, we would be OK. If not, maybe, like, a little light jacket, a sweater,” Mary Reyes explained, reflecting on how Halloween costumes have changed over the years. She grew up in Houston and didn’t always need a jacket for Halloween as a child.

Climate Central’s chief meteorologist, Shel Winkley, who lives in Texas, noted the impact on seasonal activities. Last year, his attempt to carve pumpkins before Halloween was thwarted by the heat, causing the pumpkins to rot prematurely.

Researchers measure the extended warmth by tracking the last day of warm temperatures in different cities. In Atlanta, this is the last day above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, while in Anchorage, Alaska, it’s the final day above 60 degrees.

Bernadette Woods Placky, executive director of the Talking Climate Collaborative, attributes the warming trend primarily to human-caused climate change, with this year’s conditions intensified by El Nino, a naturally occurring climate pattern. “This year, we’re seeing spikes in some areas on top of that overall warming because of El Nino and this being such a strong, record-breaking El Nino, giving that extra push of temperatures in our atmosphere,” she said.

Despite the heat, families like the Reyeses remain optimistic about Halloween. “We’re really excited for Halloween, as we are every year, especially kind of getting over that, like, heat of the summer. We’re looking forward to that fall weather,” Mary Reyes shared.