Forecasts of the past: The climatology of Halloween in Minnesota
Tricks of blizzards to treats of warmer weather and everything in between
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From record warmth to blizzard chills and soggy surprises, the state’s Oct. 31 history is full of meteorological tricks and treats.
Minnesota Halloween weather: A mix of tricks and treats
Halloween in Minnesota can bring unseasonable warmth one year and rare snowstorms the next, keeping trick-or-treaters on their toes.
The end of October in Minnesota typically brings highs in the 40s to low 50s, with lows dipping into the 30s. But just how often does Halloween actually follow this “normal” pattern? A look back at past years shows that the weather on Halloween has its own spooky surprises.
The warmest Halloween on record for the Twin Cities and many other parts of Minnesota came in 1950. The Twin Cities reached 83, while cities like Worthington, Pipestone, Winona and Farmington all enjoyed balmy days above 80.
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Looking at the last 25 years, the Twin Cities have seen some warmer Halloween afternoons. In 2000, the high reached 71 and there have been four other years when temperatures climbed above 60.
After a scorcher in 1950, Halloween took a spooky turn in 1951, with the Twin Cities barely reaching 30 at the height of the day. Some of the chilliest Halloweens on record go back more than 150 years, including 1873, when the temperature dipped to just 26 degrees.
Other notably cold years — 1917, 1991, and 1996 — saw highs hovering around the freezing mark of 32 degrees.
Halloween showers and snow
As Minnesotans, we can’t talk about Halloween without mentioning the historic Halloween Blizzard of 1991.
That storm still holds the record for the most accumulating snowfall on Oct. 31, but it’s also worth noting that the past two years, 2023 and 2024, brought measurable snow to the Twin Cities as well, with 1.8 inches in 2023 and two-tenths of an inch in 2024.
The wettest Halloween on record for the metro came last year, with 1.26 inches of precipitation.
For a more in-depth look at the 1991 Halloween Blizzard, check out this write-up from the Minnesota State Climatology Office.
In 145 years of records, Halloween has delivered measurable precipitation only 38 times. Snow has shown up for just eight of those spooky nights.
Halloween 2025 probably won’t make history, but Minnesotans can still expect the usual tricks and treats: chilly temps, a sprinkle of rain, and maybe a flake or two to keep things interesting.
