Forecasters Predict Good Weather For Halloween

It’s no trick – weather forecasters appear to have given us a treat this Halloween with the warmest day in recent memory.

Though it’ll be cooler by the time the sun goes down and the costumes come out, temperatures are expected to reach 14 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

That’s a few degrees higher than normal for this time of year and a vast improvement over the chilly single-digit days Torontonians have experienced over the past several weeks. Rain is expected to fall midday, but by late afternoon it’s expected to move out of the GTA and the streets should be dry by the time kids start going door-to-door.

Motorists are advised to keep an eye out for young trick-or-treaters as the evening sets in, many of which will probably have their minds on candy rather than being careful around traffic.

Houses across town are decked out with jack o’ lanterns, orange and black streamers, fake cobwebs, and dangling skeletons.

One of the most impressive displays has to be on Silverbirch Ave. in The Beach – the owner spent $10,000 on the decorations that include a moving, fire-breathing dragon (pictured).

The house of frights can be viewed until 10:30pm – and the owner is asking those who visit to contribute a few dollars, which will go to support breast cancer.

And there’s no questioning a Clinton, Ont. family’s dedication to the spooky holiday – trick-or-treaters who visit the residence an hour north of London will see more than 100 jack-o-lanterns. The owners figure it took more than 250 hours to carve all of the pumpkins.

Meanwhile, TTC Chair Howard Moscoe donned his pumpkin costume again in order to raise money for UNICEF at Eglinton subway station with 10-year-old UNICEF ambassador Bilaal Rajan. Money raised will go to support kids in Malawi.

“There were three kids to one desk … is what I saw when I went to Malawi. In some cases there weren’t any desks at all,” Rajan said. “Most classes were held outside whether it was raining and cold or sunny and hot.”

Volunteers will be collecting money at subway stations across the city all day Tuesday.

If there’s one group that loves All Hallow’s Eve more than kids, it’s storeowners. According to the Retail Council of Canada, Canadians are shelling out more than a billion dollars a year on candy, costumes and decorations.

To find out where we’re spending that money, click here.

Here’s a list of Halloween safety tips courtesy of Toronto Fire Services:

Costumes:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective
• Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame
• Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet
• Consider non-toxic and hypo-allergenic makeup or a decorative hat as a safe alternative
• A mask can limit or block eyesight, which can be dangerous
• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant
• Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords
• Plan ahead to use only battery powered lanterns or chemical light sticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes
• Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Items such as flower pots, low tree limbs, sprinklers or garden hoses may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.
• Review with your children the principle of “Stop-Drop-Roll”, should their clothes catch on fire
• Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost and remind them that they can call 9-1-1 for free from any public phone

Trick-or-Treating

• Only trick-or-treat in well known areas that are well lit
• Only go to houses that have the porch lights on, and never go inside
• Always walk on the sidewalk
• When crossing a street, remove all masks or wigs that will interfere with your vision
• Never enter a strangers house or car for a treat, and don’t eat your candy until an adult at home has checked it