Halloween Weather: Rain and Gusts Expected During Trick-or-Treat Hours in Cork

Families planning Halloween activities this evening should prepare for wet and blustery conditions between 5pm and 7pm, with rain returning from the south and gusty winds making umbrellas difficult to manage across Cork City and County.

Met Éireann forecasts that cloud followed by more persistent rain will build from the south through the evening, with rain and showers heavy at times and the possibility of thunderstorms. Weather model analysis shows Cork under the influence of a frontal system moving up from the south, bringing renewed rain to the county just as trick-or-treaters head out.

Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel has advised families to get out trick-or-treating early this evening, warning that a developing wave along a cold front will bring further heavy downpours with a risk of thunder into parts of Munster around 6pm, before spreading northwards across the country. He noted that heavy rain impacted much of Munster earlier this morning, with conditions clearing through the middle of the day to provide a mostly dry and bright afternoon.

The rain will be showery and broken rather than continuous, but heavier bursts could briefly reach moderate to heavy intensity, particularly across southern and eastern parts of the county. During the peak trick-or-treat window of 5pm to 7pm, Cork City is likely to see spells of rain on and off rather than two solid hours of downpour. However, visibility will drop to poor during heavier bursts, especially under street lighting and along busier commuter routes.

Rural areas, including south and east of the city and low-lying coastal routes, are most likely to see the heavier pulses first as the wave of rain moves north. Localised poor drainage spots could see water ponding on roads, though this is not expected to be a widespread flooding situation in that two-hour window.

Southerly winds will add to the challenge, with sustained speeds of 20 to 30 km/h inland and occasional gusts of 35 km/h in exposed gaps. Along more exposed southern and western coastal areas, gusts could top 55 to 65 km/h for short periods. These gusts will be strong enough to catch small children's costumes, loose decorations and Halloween props, and will make umbrellas largely impractical.

Temperatures will sit in the low teens, around 11 to 13°C widely across Cork City and suburbs during the evening window. However, the combination of damp air and gusty southerly wind will make it feel cooler, closer to 9 to 10°C when exposed.

The main hazards for families to consider are short bursts of heavy rain reducing visibility to under 500 metres at times, surface water and greasy roads after earlier wet spells, and blustery southerly gusts that could be problematic for younger children.

High-visibility or reflective strips on costumes will be far more effective than umbrellas in these conditions. Torches for crossings are strongly advised, and parents should plan for wet roads, glare and spray when driving between houses or events.

All major forecast models show good agreement that Cork will be at least damp at some stage during the 5pm to 7pm window, with high confidence in this outlook. The main uncertainty lies in whether Cork sees more showery, stop-start rain or a 30 to 60 minute spell of steadier moderate rain before it fragments.

While the conditions are not ideal for Halloween, they are manageable with proper preparation. Waterproof layers, good visibility gear and sensible footwear will make all the difference for families determined to make the most of the evening despite the weather.