Document text
By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune October 31. 2014 2:00AM Halloween rain likely to miss trick-or-treaters A storm front expected to dump a quarter-inch of rain on the Rogue Valley today is likely to end just before trick-or-treaters hit the streets for Halloween. Forecasts for the storm that moved in Thursday from the north Pacific call for the brunt of the system to be east of the Cascades by later this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service office in Medford. While temperatures will drop to around 50 degrees in the early evening and the snow level will plummet to around 5,000 feet, the air should be dry for the 3:30 p.m. Halloween parade in Ashland and the ensuing candy corraling throughout Rogue Valley communities. "It's a fairly decent chance that the trick-or-treaters will stay dry, but we can't rule out a shower," National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Stavish says. "If I were going trick-or-treating, I wouldn't be too concerned about rain." Earlier forecasts saw the incoming storm as more of a rumpus, even calling for thunderstorms that could have seen lightning strikes this evening. However, a rework of the forecast later Thursday saw that threat dissipate in southwestern Oregon but likely remain in places such as California's Siskiyou County, Stavish says. "We'll be looking at it as a very subtle, light threat of thunderstorms," Stavish says. "People should be prepared, but don't get too worried." The storm is expected to drop most of its power on the Coast Range, as do most storms moving in this direction from the north Pacific. Cold temperatures will follow, with lows down to 40 degrees by Saturday morning as the snow level drops below 5,000 feet in several areas of Southern Oregon, according to the weather service. More precipitation is expected east of the Cascades, possibly putting a cold shiver on kids plying the streets for candy in places such as Klamath Falls. "It's not going to be a huge storm, by any means," Stavish says. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman.   http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141031/NEWS/141039952 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->