Halloween rainstorm expected to give Los Angeles area the chills

If trick-or-treaters don’t get the chills from Halloween frights, they’ll most likely get them from the weather on Friday as a storm is forecast to move into Southern California.

The first widespread rainfall “in quite some time” is expected to hit just in time for Halloween and last through the weekend, dumping up to an inch of rain along the central coast and nearly a half-inch elsewhere as it passes over the Southland, National Weather Service forecasters say.

In addition to umbrellas, trick-or-treaters would do well to bundle up as temperatures take a dip, making for a chilly Halloween, said Stuart Seto, a meteorologist with the weather service.

Daytime highs aren’t expected to get past 70 degrees in most areas through the weekend, with evening temperatures dipping into the low 60s.

“It’s actually going to feel like Halloween,” he said.

The cold trough of low pressure will bring some periods of rain Friday afternoon, with the chance of showers increasing to 70% throughout the night for Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A 20% chance of rain will linger through Saturday.

The fall storm could also bring some thunderstorms, with snow levels possibly dropping to 6,000 feet, the weather service said. Wind gusts could also reach 45 mph in the mountains of L.A. and Ventura counties.

The weather service warned that the fall storm could create hazardous driving conditions given the lack of any significant rain over the past several months. Roads “will be extra slick” due to months of oil build-up on paved surfaces, forecasters warned.

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