Wet weather might just dampen some Charlotte trick-or-treaters' dreams this Halloween.
According to the National Weather Service, there's an 80% chance of rain pretty much all afternoon. That includes the possibility of thunderstorms after 4 p.m. and wind gusts as high as 25 mph.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office is keeping an eye on the weather and is asking residents to stay alert.
"Potential threats include lightning, high winds, falling and downed trees and/or power lines, heavy rain, power outages, and tornadoes," the agency said Thursday morning in a statement. "Be prepared to seek shelter indoors quickly should these conditions arise."
The ominous skies have some people sounding the alarm on trick-or-treat plans.
"With the timing being right when kids are Trick or Treating, I'd seriously consider moving it to Friday evening," WCNC meteorologist Brad Panovich posted to Facebook on Wednesday. "Kids in costumes walking blocks from their homes under trees with severe storms is not a good idea."
Panovich isn't alone.
Charlotte City Council member Tariq Bokhari wondered on Twitter if holding trick-or-treating on a different day was feasible.
How many folks in #CLT would be open to us as a City postponing Halloween (at least the kids trick or treating portion) to Friday due to rain? I don’t even know if that’s possible, but thought I’d see the public response before I try.
— Tariq Scott Bokhari (@FinTechInnov8r) October 30, 2019
"I am certainly not in favor of big government coming in and canceling something they do not own," Bokhari said later in a Facebook video. "I am concerned though the word gets out properly for folks on how dangerous this potential scenario could be. We don't want to have have a news story the day after Halloween that some child has died because of very dangerous weather events."
Several Charlotte neighborhoods are reportedly deciding to postpone trick-or-treating and similar Halloween-themed events until Friday, including the annual Rosemont Manor Haunt in Elizabeth.
There are some trick-or-treating events being held inside tonight, including events at the Northlake and Concord Mills malls.
