The Climate of Pennsylvania

By | August 27, 2022

According to Abbreviation Finder, Pennsylvania (PA) is a state in the northeastern United States. It borders Lake Erie to the northwest, which forms the natural border with Canada. To the east, the Delaware River forms the natural boundary between Pennsylvania and the states of New York and New Jersey. Much of the Pennsylvania landscape is dominated by the Appalachians, a large mountain region in the eastern US. The mountains in the central part of Pennsylvania provide a combination of hilly landscape, with fairly low mountains. Pennsylvania’s highest point is just 979 feet above sea level.

Continental Climate Types

Pennsylvania has a mix of a warm continental climate (type Dfa according to the Köppen climate classification ), with areas in the north and in the Appalachians where the slightly cooler climate type Dfb (temperate continental climate) prevails. The fact that typical continental climates occur here instead of a maritime climate has to do with the fact that the Atlantic Ocean – despite its relatively short distance from Pennsylvania – has relatively little influence on the weather in Pennsylvania. It is mainly northern and western currents that determine the weather.

While there are reasonable differences in temperature within the state, there are also major similarities. Overall you can say that it is a bit cooler in the northwest than in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. The difference in long-term average temperature amounts to a maximum of four to five degrees. The similarity is mainly in the precipitation pattern. Within all of Pennsylvania, there is a fairly even distribution in the amount of precipitation per month. Pennsylvania has no distinctly wet or drier areas.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

maximum temperature minimum temperature hours of sunshine per day days of rainfall per month
January 2℃ -7℃ 5 12
February 4℃ -5℃ 6 11
March 10℃ -1℃ 7 12
April 17℃ 4℃ 8 13
May 22℃ 10℃ 9 12
June 27℃ 15℃ 10 11
July 30℃ 18℃ 10 11
August 29℃ 17℃ 9 10
September 24℃ 12℃ 7 9
October 18℃ 6℃ 6 9
November 11℃ 2℃ 5 11
December 5℃ -4℃ 4 12

The climate of Allentown

Allentown is located in the central eastern part of the state of Pennsylvania. Allentown is located in Lehigh County on the Lehigh River. The city was founded in the second half of the 18th century and was built on the model of William Allen. The shape of the old city center still looks like it did in this period. Most people here work in healthcare and light industry. The city has its own airport, Lehigh Valley International Airport, and is not far from Newark (New Jersey) International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport.

Allentown has a warm continental climate with slightly higher precipitation rates than most parts of the state of Pennsylvania. During the coldest winter months, this precipitation will come down here as snow or sleet. Winters are cold and long periods of frost can occur. Summers are warm and pleasant with temperatures not falling below 30 degrees Celsius.

The climate of Altoona

According to Countryaah, Altoona is a medium-sized city in the central part of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States of America. Altoona is located in Blair County on the Horseshoe Curve, a famous stretch of railroad. The city was founded in the mid-19th century as a station on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Horseshoe Curve is today a popular tourist destination and is a National Historic Landmark. Today, most people here work in healthcare.

Altoona has a warm continental climate with a clear division between the four seasons. The winter period here is cold with long periods of frost and night frost. This allows precipitation to come down as snow or sleet during these months. The summer months are warm with temperatures averaging just below 30 degrees. The average precipitation here is evenly distributed over the year.

The climate of Erie

Erie is a large city in northwestern Pennsylvania, not far from the Ohio border. Erie is located in Erie County, on Lake Erie from which the city got its name. Off the coast of Erie is Presque Isle State Park, which is very popular with hikers, cyclists, swimmers and mountain bikers. Erie is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River. This open sea connection is one of the city’s main sources of income.

Erie has a warm continental climate, which is slightly influenced by its location on Lake Erie. As a result, winter temperatures are slightly higher than you would expect from such a northern place. Average rainfall is a little less evenly distributed than most places in Pennsylvania. The winters are slightly drier and the summers slightly more humid. In the winter period, however, long periods of frost and night frost can occur.

The climate of Harrisburg

Harrisburg is the capital of the US state of Pennsylvania. The city is located east of the Appalachian Mountains, at an altitude of 98 meters above sea level. Harrisburg is located on the right bank of the Susquehanna River. Wormleysburg is on the left bank. Within Pennsylvania, Harrisburg plays only a limited role in economic terms. Most of the income generated here comes from various industries such as steel, dairy and Hersey’s well-known chocolate products about 15 kilometers away.

Harrisburg has a warm continental climate (the Dfa climate type), which borders on a warm maritime climate (the Cfa type). Harrisburg has four seasons. Winter is on the cool side and can occasionally have very cold periods. The summer months (June, July and August) are warm and fairly sunny. On an annual basis there is more than a thousand millimeters of precipitation in Harrisburg, of which a reasonable part in the form of snow between December and March.

The climate of Lancaster

Lancaster is a large city in southeastern Pennsylvania. Lancaster is located in Lancaster County, on the Conestoga River. The city was founded in 1730, making it one of the oldest inland cities in the United States of America. The city was at its peak in terms of inhabitants in the mid-20th century and since then the population numbers have fluctuated below. The city has high unemployment rates, which means that a large part of the inhabitants lives below the poverty line. Most people here work in healthcare.

Lancaster has a cold continental climate, with a warm, pleasant summer period and a cold winter period. There is a climate here with four seasons, each of which can be clearly distinguished. During the winter months there are long periods of frost, during these months the precipitation can come down as snow. The summers are warm and pleasant, with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius.

The climate of Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania and is located on the border with New Jersey. Philadelphia is located in the southwest of the state, in Philadelphia County, on the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. With more than 1.5 million inhabitants, Philadelphia is the fifth largest city in the US. The city was founded in the second part of the 17th century by William Penn, who is also responsible for the creation of the state of Pennsylvania. During the American Revolutionary War, the Founding Fathers gathered here, who eventually signed the American Declaration of Independence. Today it is a modern metropolis known for its sporting achievements. The Philadelphia Phillies play in Major League Baseball and play their home games at Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia 76ers play in the National Basketball Association and play their home games at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia Eagles play in the National Football League and the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League. The economy is mainly based on healthcare and factory farming.

Within the Köppen climate system, Philadelphia has a warm maritime climate, with the most precipitation during the summer months. This is referred to as a Cfa climate. Within the lesser known climate classification of Trewartha, Philadelphia has a temperate maritime climate, a so-called Do climate. If the coolest month had been one degree colder, there would be a continental climate (Dc climate)

Winters in Philadelphia are cold and there are long periods of frost. Usually this is limited to night frost. During these months, the precipitation can come down as (wet) snow. The summer months are warm and pleasant, with temperatures averaging just below 30 degrees Celsius during the hottest part of the day. During a heat wave, temperatures of 35 degrees or sometimes higher are no exception. On an annual basis, there is an average of 1075 millimeters of precipitation. The sun shines quite often in Philadelphia: the city can count on approximately 2,500 hours of sunshine per year.

The climate of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a large city in western Pennsylvania, not far from the Ohio state line. The city was founded by the French in the early 18th century and was conquered by the British in the second part of the 18th century. The British built Fort Pitt here, named after British statesman William Pitt the Elder. The city also owes its eventual name to this. Due to the discovery of coal and the arrival of the coal mines, the city has grown rapidly to its current size. Today, the metropolitan area is home to more than 2.4 million people. Pittsburgh was the first city in the world to be powered by a nuclear power plant. The city has a team in many national leagues, such as the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball, the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League. There are several universities in the city, the most famous of which are Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh has a warm continental climate, with a clear division between the four seasons. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year and can be described as generous throughout the year. During the winter months there can be long periods of (night) frost. The summers are warm and pleasant and sometimes even hot.

The climate of State College

State College is a medium-sized city in the central part of Pennsylvania. Located in Center County, State College is a true college town. The city is home to Pennsylvania State University, which has more than 8,000 students, more than 20 percent of the city’s population. The city originated in the second half of the 19th century with the arrival of the higher agricultural college of the state of Pennsylvania. The city’s nickname is Happy Valley.

State College has a warm continental climate, with a distinct difference between the four seasons. The winter months are long and there can be long periods of (night) frost. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year and can come down as snow or sleet during the coldest winter months. The summer months are warm and pleasant, with temperatures just below 30 degrees Celsius.

The climate of Wilkes-Barre

Wilkes-Barre is a medium-sized city in the western US state of Pennsylvania. Wilkes-Barre is located in Luzerne County, in the Wyoming Valley, on the Susquehanna River. The city is surrounded by the Pocono Mountains and the Endless Mountains. Originally the Shawanese and Delaware Indians lived in the Wyoming Valley and the surrounding area. The city was founded in the second half of the 18th century and has grown in the 19th century due to the discovery of anthracite and the arrival of the anthracite mines.

Wilkes-Barre has a warm continental climate, with precipitation being evenly distributed throughout the year. During the winter period there can be long periods of frost. During this frost period, the precipitation will mainly come down as snow or wet snow. The summer months are warm and pleasant, with temperatures just below 30 degrees Celsius.

The climate of Williamsport

Williamsport is a small city in the central part of the state of Pennsylvania. Located in Lycoming County, Williamsport is internationally known as the creator of Little League Baseball. The region where Williamsport is located has been inhabited since the end of the 18th century and has been spoken of as a town since the beginning of the 19th century. In the third decade of the 20th century, a baseball tournament was organized here for the children from the different neighborhoods. This was such a success that it was organized every year and got bigger and bigger. Today, 200,000 teams worldwide participate in 80 countries.

Williamsport has a warm continental climate, which is characterized by the pleasantly warm summer months and a cold winter period. The average annual precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year and can come down as (wet) snow during the winter months. During the winter period, long periods of (night) frost can occur. There is a clear four-season climate here.

Williamsport Pennsylvania