Storm Troopers

Cooler weather in forecast

Happy Halloween! ... and with it, some scary developments.

A California wildfire that consumed more than 38,000 acres and destroyed 21 homes last week has been blamed on a boy playing with matches. Officials say they'll ask a prosecutor to consider the case, according to the AP. The boy admitted to sparking the fire on Oct. 21.

Meanwhile, the death toll of Tropical Storm Noel is now at 48 because of floods and mudslides in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The storm is moving slowly across Cuba and toward Florida. Here's a video.

There was a magnitude-5.6 earthquake reported in the San Francisco Bay area Tuesday (pictured), making it the biggest in almost 20 years. It was noticeable but didn't cause any serious damage or injuries. There was a magnitude-7.0 earthquake in the Pacific Ocean near the Marianas Islands, but Japan's weather agency says there's no threat of a tsunami.

Around here, today's predicted high has been bumped up a couple degrees from what was reported yesterday. It's now 81, which may end up being the warmest afternoon we see for a long while. The rest of the week still looks sunny, clear and pleasant through Tuesday, when the weather service predicts a 20 percent chance of showers and a high of 66. Read more.

-- John Powell Metz

Temps may dip Thursday

The seven-day forecast for the Metroplex looks consistent and pleasant, according to the weather service. Halloween will be the warmest day of the week, with a high of 79.

Temperatures are expected to fall a little Thursday. The high that day is 68.

Highs will jump right back into the low-to-mid-70s through the weekend. Expect no worse than partly cloudy skies all week and through the weekend.

Meanwhile, in the Caribbean, Tropical Storm Noel caused flooding and mudslides that have killed at least 20 people, according to the AP. That system may head toward southeast Florida, and a tropical storm watch is possible there. The photograph here shows some of the conditions yesterday in southern Haiti. Read more.

-- John Powell Metz

7-day forecast: Perfect, perfect, perfect ...

Does it get any better?

The forecast still looks clear and beautiful all through the weekend and next week, including Halloween. The weather service is predicting sunny, clear skies every day, with highs between 72 and 75 through Wednesday, then a tad cooler Thursday (68) and Friday (70). The lows are all between 48 and 55.

Meanwhile, here's the latest comprehensive update from the AP on the California wildfires, which are in their seventh day. You can see some compelling photos in this gallery.

-- John Powell Metz

Frosty the Cowtown

Check out this photo taken by the Star-Telegram's own Laurie L. Ward. Ice crystals bejewel blades of grass in a front yard in south Fort Worth on frosty Friday morning.

Speaking of crystals, we have crystal clear skies in the forecast for at least the next seven days, according to the weather service. It should be a nice chilly night for trick-or-treating on Wednesday. The low that night is 51.

The high every day from Saturday to Thursday is 72-76, and the nighttime low is 49-51. Enjoy!

-- John Powell Metz

Stadium cleared in SD

Apparently the stadium is cleared of evacuees. And the SD Union-Tribune has this story on the Sunday football game being played at home, not here. For a little while there it looked like we might get to see L.T. (and Norv) back in the Metroplex. Oh well...

(photo by AP)

- Bryon Okada

How cold did it get last night?

Here's some chilly readings from this morning in various places:

5:53 a.m. DFW -- 42 degrees (official)

7:53 a.m. Fort Worth Meacham -- 39 degrees

6:24 a.m. Sherman -- 37 degrees

6:51 a.m. Waco -- 36 degrees

3:53 a.m. Fort Worth Alliance -- 35 degrees

6:53 a.m. Denton -- 35 degrees

4:49 a.m. Graham -- 34 degrees

7:45 a.m. Granbury -- 34 degrees

7:47 a.m. Bridgeport -- 32 degrees

Or you can read Bill Hanna's report we ran in the hard paper.

And, OK, this photo isn't from around here -- it's Knutsford, England, where they're getting the first frost of the winter. It's just too cool not to post.

- Bryon Okada

Frost advisory to the southwest of us as well

If you live on the outskirts of town, it might be time to cover your plants or bring them inside.

The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory for much of North Texas, including Hood, Parker, Wise and Denton counties, where temperatures were expected to dip into the upper 30s early Friday.

Tarrant and Dallas counties were not included. It is expected to be the coldest morning since April 15 when the thermometer hit 38 degrees at D/FW Airport.

-- Bill Hanna

Weatherford frost advisory

There's some blue showing in the local forecast, particularly to the northwest of the Metroplex. Among the cities named in the frost advisory for 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. Friday morning is Weatherford.

(photo from Dec. 2004)

- Bryon Okada

AP NASA photo: California, a smoking state

Elevated grass fire danger

There's an elevated grass fire danger this afternoon (Thursday) due to gusty winds and relative humidity between 25 and 30 percent. And, for greater detail, read Bill Hanna's report on our fire danger, as well as what's going on in Socal.

- Bryon Okada