As Halloween approached, Clay Smith browsed the aisles of Spirit Halloween in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, contemplating whether to switch from his warm banana suit to a lighter outfit, such as a pool boy costume.
Krystal Colon, also shopping for Halloween, chose to skip the Greenwich Village parade this year, preferring to celebrate away from the city due to the heat, the subway, and the challenge of wearing costumes.
Read more: Ghostly Glam: Best Halloween Nail Trends to Try in 2024
This year’s temperatures in New York City reached the upper 70s, far warmer than the typical crisp fall weather residents expect during this season. “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced 80 degrees on Halloween,” remarked 26-year-old Smith, who grew up in Brooklyn, adding that he didn’t like the unseasonably warm weather.
According to the National Weather Service, cities in the Northeast were forecasted to see high temperatures in the 70s and low 80s on Halloween, potentially marking one of the warmest Halloweens on record. At 1 p.m., the temperature in NYC was 77 degrees, and although it was unlikely to hit 80, it still felt unusually warm for the holiday.
The month had been relatively warm for New York City, ranking among the top 25 warmest Octobers in the city’s 155 years of record-keeping. Halloween was projected to be the warmest day that week, falling short of the record high of 81 degrees set in 1946.
The unusual warmth, coupled with nearly a month of dry weather, left some residents feeling that the spooky season lacked its usual charm. Long Island natives Sal and Stephanie Risi planned to take their nephew trick-or-treating in Manhattan but noted that the warm weather diminished the holiday vibe. Stephanie reminisced about bundling up with turtlenecks under her costumes as a child, saying that wearing layers was part of the Halloween experience.
Others lamented past Halloweens characterized by chilly weather, while some were excited to celebrate in the heat. At Greg’s Pumpkin Patch in Brooklyn’s South Slope, Rachel Tiemann was selecting fall decorations with her daughter, who was dressed as Wonder Woman. Tiemann found this year’s weather to be “odd,” as autumn decorations contrasted with summer-like temperatures.
Despite the unusual conditions, many New Yorkers remained in the Halloween spirit. Families at the pumpkin patch chose pumpkins and corn husks for decoration. At a Spirit Halloween location in Brooklyn, a long line stretched down the block on Tuesday evening, with street vendors selling costumes, horror masks, and pumpkin buckets.
Anthony Taylor and Johnny Vasquez, both 27 and from Brooklyn, searched for last-minute costumes, viewing the warm weather as a plus. “Everyone will be out,” said Taylor, suggesting that the combination of heat and Halloween could lead to a lively celebration this year.
Ultimately, Smith decided to stick with the banana suit, noting, “I could wear it like a tank top.”
