On the scale of most populous states, it ranks fifth with a population of around 13 million. It is popular among tourists and relocators. Similarly, the affordable cost of living in Pennsylvania makes it an excellent place to live. But the climates are essential to know before you land here.
Pennsylvania does snow, which might become a problem for someone who is not much habitual to the cold weather. Someone facing the Pennsylvania snow conditions can notice a remarkable difference in the snowing in the state compared to the mountainous ranges.
The climate in the mountainous regions gets colder with an increase in cloudy days. The amount of rainfall becomes heavy, and the occurrence of snowfall also takes place. As a result, the average snowfall varies according to the considered locations.
Does it rain or snow in Pennsylvania?
Yes, it does! The rainfall and snowfall both happened during their time or season. However, the amount of rainfall and snowfall shows a slight change compared to the mountainous range.
It is found that the cities like Lancaster and Philadelphia experience an average snowfall of about 19 inches. And while moving toward the mountainous ranges, it reaches around 100 inches.
Whereas, the amount of rainfall in Philadelphia is 3 inches, and in the mountainous ranges, it is around 44 inches.
(reference – https://bit.ly/3CbNrKc)
When was the last snow in Pennsylvania?
You can find snow every year in this state. According to StoryMaps, most cities, like Williamsport, Harrisburg, State College, Erie, etc., saw snowfall of 51.4”, 32.4”, 45.7”, and 64.3”, respectively, in 2021.
Also, it bears a snowfall between 18 to 150 inches every season. Mostly, the snowfall reaches its peak from December to March.
In 2020, the state saw heavy snowfall, breaking all the previous records. According to the Pennsylvania Snowfall records 2020-21 on StoryMaps, Philadelphia recorded 23.9 inches of sliding snowfall for 31 continuous days.
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Climate in Pennsylvania
The climate in the state falls under the category of humid continental climate, with the occurrence of climatic shifts. Also, the changing temperature of the seasons is responsible for the same.
Due to such conditions, everyone asks, “is Pennsylvania safe to live in?” and the straight answer is yes, anyone can live here with ease.
What type of climate in Pennsylvania?
It remains sunny for almost half the year, i.e., around 180 days. The maximum temperature in July is around 83 degrees, while as low as 19 degrees in the winter.
You can observe a difference in the variations in the elevation of the place. The temperature depends upon the place’s coordinates rather than the time of the year.
What’s the weather like in Pennsylvania year round?
The month of January is the coldest of Winter. The March ending shows the commencement of the Spring season. It remains warm from April to July, with July being the hottest month.
Further, August remains a combination of cloudy and sunny days. However, with the start of September month Autumn season also begins.
October experiences fall, November ends Autumn, and winters start in December.
How cold is Pennsylvania in the winter?
The temperature ranges from 32 degrees Fahrenheit to below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Extreme cold situations are sometimes complemented by snowfall.
Freezing Days in Pennsylvania
With fog and blizzards, the areas in the Northwest region, mainly consisting of the mountains near lake Erie, acquire a remarkably higher snowfall that can go up to 100 inches.
The most common question in the minds of visitors and tourists before planning a visit to this Keystone State is, “when does it usually start snowing in Pennsylvania?” Freezing days in the state last from early November to late March, with January being the coldest month.
What is the coldest month in Pennsylvania?
January is the coldest month of winter here. During this month, the temperature drops even lower than 0-degree celsius.
What was the coldest day ever in Pennsylvania?
January 5th, 1904, is recorded as the coldest day in the state according to the Pennsylvania snowfall records. This temperature was recorded in the town of Smethport.
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Extremely Clouds Days in Pennsylvania
The major formation of gray clouds takes place about 130 miles northwest of the state, near lake Erie.
The lake being in mountainous regions, the formations have to travel upwards only for 400 feet, while on the non-mountainous side, the formations travel for about 1300 feet.
How many cloudy days does Pennsylvania have?
On average, there are around 180 cloudy days. The appearance of gray clouds is observed from early December till the mid of March. The cloudy formations take place again during the season of precipitation. The clouds hold precipitation, such as rain, hail, snow, and sleet, making them look gray and hazy.
Why is it always cloudy in Pennsylvania?
Mainly the wind flow and the phenomenon that takes place in the atmosphere are responsible for the cloudy weather here. The northwestern wind currents carry an amount of moisture from lake Erie. The rise of the air results in the formation of clouds.
Another reason for the existence of cloudy days is the process of inversion, which occurs when a warmer layer exists above the surface.
Snow Fall in Pennsylvania
You must consider a few important things to know about relocating to Pennsylvania. The snowfall in mountainous regions and the snowfall in non-mountainous areas show a significant difference.
The average snowfall in Pennsylvania is found as 38 inches per year, per the snowfall records.
What part of Pennsylvania has snow?
The entire state experiences snowfall. The only variation observed is in the intensity of snowfall. The intensity sometimes is as low as 0.1 inches, just enough to get noticed on the window glasses. At the same time, in the mountainous town of Erie, more elevated snowfall one can experience.
Does Pennsylvania get much snow?
Yes! The largest snowfall happened in 1994, on the 31st of December. However, snowfall occurs every year in the entire state. Mainly the city of Harrisburg and Philadelphia has an accumulation of 76 inches of snow.
What months does it snow in Pennsylvania?
The snowfall usually occurs within eight months, i.e., from October to May. Mainly, Erie is the snowiest place you can experience here.
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Snow On Ground in Pennsylvania
On usually considered winter days here, a layer of snow accumulates at least an inch on the ground. The snow layers are noticed to gradually increase at a rate of an inch per day.
Thus, the weird laws in Pennsylvania inform drivers that they must remove snow from the motor vehicle’s roof, trunk, and hood to drive safely.
Is there snow on the ground in Pennsylvania Beach?
Yes! Most beaches get snowy during the season. Beltzville State Park Beach in Leighton experiences snow with activities like cross-country skiing. Kohler beach experiences snowfall from November to April, with at least an inch of snowfall. It’s been seen that Kohler beach experiences the most snowfall in January, with 4.6 inches.
Does it Snow in Pennsylvania FAQs
Is snow common in Pennsylvania?
Yes! The snow is common here, and you can experience it mainly in January, with an average of 9.5 inches.
Does it snow in Pennsylvania in November?
Yes! You can experience the snow in November. But the most interesting fact is that Philadelphia covers only 11.4 days of snowfall during the season with 2.87” only.
How many days does it snow in Pennsylvania?
The number of days starts from 136.7 to 180 or more. Therefore, providing the exact numbers of snow is quite challenging.
Conclusion
Yes, the answer to does it snow in Pennsylvania is that the state experiences a snowfall yearly. The intensity remains comparatively less towards the Eastern side of the state and increases extremely in the northern mountainous regions.
If you plan a trip to Pennsylvania, December to early March is the time to avoid the visit, as the temperature remains cold during winter, and January is the coldest month.
The drivers must follow strict rules to ease their driving experience and avoid skidding the car, hitting pedestrians, etc.
The residents must follow particular measures to ease their life through this period. The safety measures can make the residents’ living simpler through the precautions, and emergency helplines are available at your service.
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