The Tippah County Halloween forecast calls for warm, dry weather through Friday and a chance of showers on Halloween afternoon. The National Weather Service forecast for Ripley, issued at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, calls for highs near 80 on Thursday and Friday. A 40 percent chance of showers moves in after 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.
That timing matters for the many outdoor events planned this week in Ripley, Walnut and the surrounding communities.
Thursday night: Partly cloudy, low around 50, with patchy fog possible after 4 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 30: Partly sunny, high near 80. Light east-southeast wind in the afternoon.
Friday night: Cloudy, low around 58.
Saturday, Oct. 31 (Halloween): Mostly cloudy, high near 75, with a 40 percent chance of showers after 1 p.m. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
No weather watches, warnings or advisories were in effect for the Ripley area when the forecast was issued.
What It Means for Spirit of Ripley and Trick-or-Treaters
Friday evening’s Spirit of Ripley festival in historic downtown Ripley, which begins at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, should have mild, dry weather under increasing clouds. With a forecast high near 80 and an overnight low around 58, it should be a comfortable evening for the chili cookoff and Spirit Booths.
Halloween itself is less certain. Showers are possible Saturday afternoon and evening, so families planning to trick-or-treat or attend trunk-or-treat events should keep an eye on updated forecasts and have a backup plan, such as a rain jacket or an indoor alternative.
Weekend Safety Tips
Friday morning fog: Drivers on Highway 15, Highway 4 and county roads should slow down and use low beams if patchy fog forms early Friday morning.
Visibility: If showers move in Saturday evening, add reflective tape or a flashlight to costumes so drivers can see children on wet roads.
Burn ban: Dry conditions have kept burn restrictions in place for Tippah and Benton counties in recent weeks, so check the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s current list before any outdoor burning.
Forecasts can change, especially for rain chances three or more days out. The latest Ripley forecast is available from the National Weather Service office in Memphis.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
