Near record warmth leading up to Halloween in Western New York

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Trick-or-treaters won't need hats and gloves on Halloween across the Buffalo-Niagara region this year, but they may be dodging some rain showers while moving door-to-door.

AccuWeather forecasters say warm weather will return with a vengeance in the days leading up to Halloween. Record-challenging temperatures will first build across the middle of the nation early this week before expanding toward the East Coast by midweek.

The warmup will be noticeable as midweek arrives, National Weather Service forecasters say, as southwesterly influence arrives across the region. This will not only bring near record highs on Wednesday, but also the possibility for record warm low temperatures both Tuesday and Wednesday night. Highs Wednesday are expected to reach well into the 70's, with overnight lows mainly in the 50's and low 60's.

Along with the mild weather, it will be breezy midweek. Expect frequent wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph, with up to 35 mph northeast of Lake Erie, especially Wednesday afternoon.

The unseasonable warmth will continue into Halloween, however a few showers may impact the trick-or-treating forecast. While Thursday will likely begin dry, a line of showers ahead of the cold front will start to approach Western New York by the afternoon hours. The exact timing of the showers will come into clearer view as the forecast develops midweek, forecasters note. It will be breezy on Halloween as well.

While the near record warmth will end Thursday, it should remain mild into the weekend with fair conditions.