Local Climate and Past Weather Resources

News Headlines

Check out the 2025-2026 Winter Outlook

Recent Text Summaries and Reports

Past Highs, Lows and Precipitation Summary for the past 24 hours (RTPCTP)
Daily summary (text table) of Central PA Cooperative Observations (HYDCTP).
Reports of severe weather (tornadoes, thunderstorm damage, snowfall, etc.): Local Storm Report (LSRCTP)
Damage Survey Results, and General Information: Public Information Statement (PNSCTP)

Hourly Data for up to 3 Days Ago

Click on the map on our front page.
The page that loads will show the current conditions nearby (usually an airport), and then the NWS forecast below.
You can check the "3 Day History" link located to the right of the current observation.

Daily and Monthly Summaries and Historical Extremes

Please see the examples and accompanying example images below. The records can be found in many ways, but the two easiest are:
1) Day-by-day: * Go to "Climate and Past Weather" * Choose the Location in column #1, * "Daily almanac" from column #2, * Select the date from column #3, and * Hit "GO!"	2) Calendar Day Summary: * Go to "Climate and Past Weather" * Choose the Location in column #1, * "Calendar day summaries" from column #2, * For column #3, leave the Year range at "por (period of record) - 2020", * Select the variable and summary type, and hit "GO!" Example: Selecting Max temp and Daily Maximum as the variable and summary type, you'll get the record maximums. (tip: Selecting "Daily Minimum" results in the Lowest High temps (mini maxes))

Please see the examples and accompanying example images below.

The records can be found in many ways, but the two easiest are:

1) Day-by-day:

* Go to "Climate and Past Weather"

* Choose the Location in column #1,

* "Daily almanac" from column #2,

* Select the date from column #3, and

* Hit "GO!"

2) Calendar Day Summary:

* Go to "Climate and Past Weather"

* Choose the Location in column #1,

* "Calendar day summaries" from column #2,

* For column #3, leave the Year range at "por (period of record) - 2020",

* Select the variable and summary type, and hit "GO!"

Example: Selecting Max temp and Daily Maximum as the variable and summary type, you'll get the record maximums. (tip: Selecting "Daily Minimum" results in the Lowest High temps (mini maxes))

NOWdata example image Example of record high temps

Past Holiday Weather Conditions

	City
Holiday

Harrisburg

Williamsport

New Years Day

Harrisburg

Williamsport

PA Farm Show Weeks

Day-By-Day Weather for 1917-Present

Easter Day

Harrisburg

Williamsport

July 4th
(Independence Day)

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

IMPORTANT: The data available from the various NWS websites are considered preliminary and are usually NOT permissible in court/legal proceedings.

The following two sources (PA State Climatologist and the NCEI) can provide fully-quality-checked documentation which is usually permissible in legal matters.

Pennsylvania State Climatologist	NCEI National Center for Environmental Information
If you are looking for information about Pennsylvania in general, or need data in a specific format, check with the Pennsylvania State Climatologist (PASC), Mr. Kyle Imhoff. Kyle and his staff can usually find you all the information you are looking for. PASC web: https://climate.met.psu.edu/ phone: (814)865-8732 fax:(814)865-3663	The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) in Asheville, NC may have what you are looking for. NCEI stores all weather information recorded across the US and it's territories since the 1800's. NCEI quality controls the data and publishes it in various forms (a monthly summary is the most common form). They also certify the data for use in court, as well. NCEI's phone #: (828) 271-4800.
Severe Weather Events
Weather Event Archive (Selected Significant events for Central PA) Searchable "Storm Data" database from NCEI (Gives listing of all severe weather events from 1950)

Pennsylvania State Climatologist

NCEI

National Center for Environmental Information

If you are looking for information about Pennsylvania in general, or need data in a specific format, check with the Pennsylvania State Climatologist (PASC), Mr. Kyle Imhoff. Kyle and his staff can usually find you all the information you are looking for.
PASC web: https://climate.met.psu.edu/
phone: (814)865-8732 fax:(814)865-3663

The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) in Asheville, NC may have what you are looking for. NCEI stores all weather information recorded across the US and it's territories since the 1800's. NCEI quality controls the data and publishes it in various forms (a monthly summary is the most common form). They also certify the data for use in court, as well. NCEI's phone #: (828) 271-4800.

Severe Weather Events

Weather Event Archive

(Selected Significant events for Central PA)

Searchable "Storm Data" database from NCEI

(Gives listing of all severe weather events from 1950)

State College (STCP1) Climate Data (from PSU Meteorology Department):

PSU Weather Station Link (with searchable Daily Climate Summaries).

Etc.

The BEGINNING of the "growing season" is set by the average date of the last freeze in Spring, and normally happens during very late April to mid May in Central PA.

Median Date of the Last Freeze in Spring

The END of the "growing season" occurs when most of the county/NWS zone has had it's first freeze in the autumn (1/2 or more of the zone has reached 32°F or below) which usually occurs in October in Central PA. This map for context of when the first freeze usually occurs.

Median Date of the First Autumn Freeze

Date of first 36 degree minimum temperature in the Autumn.

This may be useful as a (poor man's) proxy for when the average first frost occurs. However, two big caveats are involved in using it that way:

1) 36F at 2m height (standard observation/sensor height) is about when we see the near-ground temps able to get down to freezing. So, by extension frost can occur when the observed temperature is 36F.

2) It needs to be calm and mainly clear. Otherwise frost is much less likely at 33-36F. Freezes can occur even without frost forming, and is mainly possible when it's windy and a strong early-season cold front has moved through.

Download CSV file

We'll work on a map of the data.