Weekend Ready: Halloween chill, time change, tires

Weekend Ready is Canada News Media’s Friday guide to the practical side of the weekend: weather, roads and what is open. Want to present Weekend Ready? Email [email protected].

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and the weather is split down the middle: a cold start to the night for the West, mild air in the East, and an hour of extra sleep on Sunday for those whose clocks still change.

The Weather Network said in its Halloween forecast, published Oct. 24, that all three major weather models showed a similar temperature divide across the country. Meteorologist Tyler Hamilton wrote that parts of Western Canada were expected to be colder than seasonal while conditions farther east would be unusually mild. Forecasts shift quickly, so check the latest Environment Canada alert for your area before heading out.

In British Columbia, the Weather Network said a pocket of below-seasonal air was forecast over the south, with temperatures in the single digits along the coast and near or below freezing through the Interior. Showers were more likely farther north along the coast. Alberta was also expected to be decidedly chilly, with trick-or-treat temperatures falling toward the freezing mark. Drivers heading out in the evening in cold areas should watch for slick patches once the sun goes down.

Farther east, southern Manitoba was expected to be milder, and the Weather Network said precipitation odds rise toward the eastern Prairies, with a disturbance that could bring showers and gusty winds. Ontario looked largely quiet, with temperatures forecast about five degrees above seasonal and extreme southwestern Ontario possibly the warmest spot in the country for trick-or-treating. A developing disturbance over the Great Lakes basin could bring rain later in the weekend. Waterloo region has already set a record for the date, as we reported in Waterloo region hits record 21 C on Oct. 29.

The Weather Network said Quebec was likely to see calm weather with temperatures within a few degrees of seasonal norms and a higher chance of dry conditions along the St. Lawrence River. Atlantic Canada was expected to stay dry, with mid to low single-digit temperatures. For families heading out with children, Health Canada’s advice on treats is summarized in our story Halloween candy safety: what Health Canada tells parents.

Then there is the clock. Clocks move back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, so 2 a.m. becomes 1 a.m. The picture is different in the West this year. According to Moving2Canada, which cites the provinces’ own decisions, British Columbia made its last seasonal change on March 8, and most of the province now stays on Pacific time year-round. Alberta has also ended seasonal changes, and Manitoba is staying on daylight time permanently. None of the three will turn clocks back this weekend.

Moving2Canada also noted that Saskatchewan, apart from the Lloydminster area and some nearby communities, does not change its clocks. The practical result is that time gaps between provinces shrink for the winter. Calgary and Toronto, for instance, go from two hours apart to one, and Vancouver and Toronto go from three hours apart to two. Anyone booking a flight, a meeting or a call across provinces should double-check the local time. We have more in Time change Nov. 1: where clocks go back in Canada and, for Manitoba, the province’s own advisory. Phones and computers update on their own, but car clocks and appliances may need a manual change.

The earlier sunset after the change also affects driving. Evenings get dark sooner in the provinces that fall back, which matters for the first commute of the week.

Quebec drivers have a deadline coming. CAA-Québec says that from Dec. 1 to March 15, all tires on a passenger vehicle or taxi must be specifically designed for winter driving. Offenders face a fine of $200 to $300, with no demerit points. Studded tires are still permitted from Oct. 15 to May 1. Tire shops tend to fill up as the first snow arrives, so booking a changeover now avoids the rush. Rules differ elsewhere: our earlier edition covered Prairie snow and tire rules.

Looking ahead, Remembrance Day is Nov. 11, and our guide How to wear a poppy in Canada covers the dates and rules. Weekend Ready returns next Friday.

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