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Latest PA Weather Summary:

331
AWUS81 KCTP 202204
RWSCTP
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-
049>053-056>059-063>066-211215-

Regional Weather Summary
National Weather Service State College PA
504 PM EST Tue Jan 20 2026

High pressure moving into the region tonight will ensure clear
skies, calm winds, and another very cold night with lows in the
single digits to teens. Clouds will begin to increase Wednesday
morning ahead of the next system to impact portions of the
Commonwealth.

A quick-hitting winter storm will bring a heavy thump of snow and
localized accumulations >4-6" in northwest PA on Wednesday
afternoon into Thursday morning. A few snow squalls are possible
along an Arctic front on Thursday.

We continue to monitor the track of a significant winter storm
this weekend. The highest impacts will remain south of PA, but
there is increasing confidence in at least a little bit of
accumulating snow across much of Pennsylvania, with potential for
several inches in the southeast. Frigid temperatures return by
Saturday and stick around into the end of January.

$$

Latest Forecaster's Discussion:

903
FXUS61 KCTP 210025
AFDCTP

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service State College PA
725 PM EST Tue Jan 20 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
* The Winter Storm Watch for northwest PA has been changed to a
Winter Weather Advisory from 12 noon Wednesday to 10 am
Thursday.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Quick-hitting winter storm for northwest PA to bring briefly
heavy snow later Wednesday afternoon into the evening, with
total accumulations of 2-5" by Thursday morning.

3) Monitoring the track of a significant winter storm this
weekend; highest impacts will remain south of PA, but northward
extent of accumulating snowfall remains uncertain.

4) Frigid temperatures return by this weekend and will likely
stay around until the end of January.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: After dry, cold conditions into Wednesday
morning, our next winter storm will take aim at northwest PA by
early afternoon.

A robust short-wave trough, diving into the northern Plains this
afternoon, will help develop an Alberta Clipper type surface
wave, which will track across the upper Midwest and then into
Canada later tomorrow and Thursday. As it does so, a warm front
will cross PA Wednesday afternoon and evening. Pronounced warm
advection forcing and a strong low-level jet (45-60 kt) will
bring a 3-6 hour period of localized moderate-heavy snow,
probably centered from the mid-afternoon to early evening hours.
Snowfall rates could briefly reach an inch per hour. The best
snowfall rates should concentrate from the northwest corner of
the state onto the Allegheny plateau, with amounts trailing off
farther east into the ridge and valley region.

Later Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, occasional
light snow should persist, but the best forced lift and moisture
depths should be north and east of the Commonwealth by then. In
fact, it is not out of the question (although not strictly
mentioned in the forecast) that patchy freezing drizzle could
develop, if moisture depths decrease sufficiently to prevent
ice formation in the cloud bearing layer.

At any rate, we expect just about all the precipitation to be
over by mid to late morning Thursday.

KEY MESSAGE 2: Medium-range guidance remains consistent in
depicting a large-scale winter storm this weekend, tracking from
the mid-South across the Mid-Atlantic states.

The devil, however, will be in the details, with a tight
northern edge snowfall gradient expected to be at play. Where
exactly this gradient zone sets up is highly uncertain, with the
potential for it lie somewhere across PA.

In all probability, the highest winter storm impacts will be
south of the Mason-Dixon line, but again with a tight snowfall
gradient and the anticipation of heavy snowfall where jet
dynamics are maximized, this situation bears watching. Please
stay tuned for the latest forecast updates.

KEY MESSAGE 3: An initial surge of arctic air is expected on
Friday and Saturday, with a reinforcing shot behind this
weekend`s winter storm, lasting well into next week.

On Friday, the initial wave of frigid air will be in the
process of building south across the Commonwealth. As a result,
we should see a fair temperature gradient, with highs on Friday
ranging from near 10 in northwest PA, to the lower 30s in the
Lower Susquehanna Valley. By Saturday, it will be well
entrenched, with daytime highs in the single digits and teens
area-wide. As mentioned earlier, a reinforcing push of very cold
air is anticipated by early next week. Sub-zero apparent
temperatures are a solid bet, and subsequent Cold Weather
Advisories/Extreme Cold Warnings may ultimately be required.

Given the prolonged nature of the cold, we may begin to see more
infrastructure impacts (frozen pipes, for instance) by next
week. At any rate, an extended period of well below normal
temperatures for late January appears extremely likely.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Clear skies across central Pennsylvania are virtually certain
(~90-100% confidence) to continue overnight, with widespread VFR
conditions prevailing. Air mass remains dry as of recent
observations, which should limit any fog mentions at all of the
terminals. Increasing clouds are expected ahead of the system
close to 21/10Z with mid-level clouds beginning to filter into
the region and thicken as the day progresses. Current TAF
forecast tracks closer to more recent GLAMP/HREF model guidance
which continues to track well based on observations. Warm air
advection begins to filter into the region which will allow for
light snow mentions beginning across the western terminals
closer to the 21/14-16Z timeframe with higher confidence later
in the timeframe based on HREF model guidance. Recent hi-res
model guidance does indicate some low-level dry air which could
slow down light snow mentions across the southern terminals
(JST/AOO); however, so continued to trend closer to GLAMP
guidance given the concern of low-level dry air in place. Given
the ample forcing in play, have decided to highlight mentions at
AOO/UNV while keeping PROB30s in at IPT based on recent HREF
guidance/probabilities for measurable precipitation.

Light winds are expected overnight, generally below 10 kts area
wide before increasing after 21/12Z. An approaching 50-60kt LLJ
approaching from the east will begin to bring increasing
concern for LLWS thresholds being met, with highest confidence
(70-80%) at BFD/JST after 21/14Z through the end of the 00Z TAF
package. Concerns further east remain, but are not as confident
based on recent NBM/NAM model output so have kept mentions out
of this TAF package, especially given most recent HREF model
guidance outlining less structure in the LLJ as it continues to
track eastward across the forecast area. Lower probability
solutions indicating LLWS do exist; however, so will need to
continue to monitor LLWS concerns at AOO/UNV/IPT/MDT/LNS in
future TAF packages.

Thu...CFROPA, gusty. LIFR/IFR cigs/vis in SN N/W, MVFR cigs SE.

Fri...Gusty W wind. Lake effect BFD (ocnl IFR). Mainly MVFR
elsewhere.

Sat-Sun...Dry to begin Sat. SN begins to enter south-to-north
late Sat continue through Sun. IFR possible, most likely S PA.

&&

.CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory from noon Wednesday to 10 AM EST
Thursday for PAZ004>006-010-011-017.

&&

$$

WHAT HAS CHANGED...Jurewicz
KEY MESSAGES...Jurewicz/Banghoff
DISCUSSION...Jurewicz
AVIATION...NPB

Latest Public Information Statement:

531
NOUS41 KCTP 201146
PNSCTP
PAZ004>006-010>012-017>019-024>028-033>037-041-042-045-046-049>053-056>059-
063>066-202346-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
646 AM EST Tue Jan 20 2026

...MINIMUM WIND CHILL REPORTS...

Location WC Temp. Time/Date Provider

...Pennsylvania...

...Blair County...
Altoona-Blair County Airport -12 F 0553 AM 01/20 AWOS
2 NNW Altoona -10 F 0639 AM 01/20 AWS

...Cambria County...
1 E Cresson -21 F 0640 AM 01/20 PADOT
Johnstown Airport -21 F 0554 AM 01/20 ASOS
Mineral Point -13 F 0515 AM 01/20 CWOP
MINERAL POINT -13 F 0613 AM 01/20 CWOP

...Cameron County...
Doll Hill -12 F 0450 AM 01/20 RAWS

...Centre County...
Snow Shoe -15 F 0540 AM 01/20 PADOT
Bear Knob -15 F 0549 AM 01/20 RAWS
University Park Airport -14 F 0455 AM 01/20 AWOS
Centre Hall -11 F 0215 AM 01/20 DAVIS
3 NNW Milesburg -10 F 0425 AM 01/20 PADOT
Boalsburg -10 F 0600 AM 01/20 CWOP
Stormstown -10 F 0100 AM 01/20 CWOP

...Clearfield County...
Kennedy Preserve -18 F 0608 AM 01/20 RAWS
6 NNE Philipsburg -16 F 0525 AM 01/20 PADOT
ROCKTON -14 F 0549 AM 01/20 CWOP
Clearfield Airport -13 F 0554 AM 01/20 ASOS
Psu Dubois -13 F 0555 AM 01/20 MESOWEST
2 ENE Clearfield -11 F 0550 AM 01/20 PADOT
1 SSE S.b. Elliot State Park -10 F 1040 PM 01/19 PADOT

...Clinton County...
Coffin Rock -19 F 0616 AM 01/20 RAWS
Carroll -14 F 0505 AM 01/20 PADOT
Lock Haven Airport -10 F 0609 AM 01/20 AWOS

...Elk County...
Ridgway -17 F 0640 AM 01/20 AWS
Saint Marys Area High School -16 F 0535 AM 01/20 MESOWEST
Kersey -14 F 0628 AM 01/20 CWOP
St Marys -14 F 0415 AM 01/20 AWOS
Saint Marys -11 F 0300 AM 01/20 CWOP

...Fulton County...
2 S Crystal Springs -10 F 0435 AM 01/20 PADOT

...Lycoming County...
Jersey Shore -12 F 0545 AM 01/20 CWOP
Williamsport Airport -10 F 0554 AM 01/20 ASOS

...McKean County...
Bradford Airport -20 F 0632 AM 01/20 ASOS
Kane -20 F 0450 AM 01/20 AWS
Kinzua Bridge State Park -19 F 0515 AM 01/20 MESOWEST
2 WSW Mount Jewett -18 F 0250 AM 01/20 PADOT

...Mifflin County...
Chestnut Springs -10 F 0451 AM 01/20 RAWS

...Potter County...
3 W Denton Hill State Park -19 F 0550 AM 01/20 PADOT
Cherry Springs State Park -12 F 0435 AM 01/20 MESOWEST

...Schuylkill County...
Joe Zerbey Airport -14 F 0355 AM 01/20 AWOS

...Somerset County...
2 NNE Garrett -21 F 0550 AM 01/20 PADOT
Flight 93 Memorial Site -20 F 0455 AM 01/20 MESOWEST
Ogletown -19 F 0425 AM 01/20 PADOT
Somerset Airport -19 F 0415 AM 01/20 AWOS
3 NNE Seven Springs -18 F 0640 AM 01/20 PADOT
Addison Township -18 F 0445 AM 01/20 MESOWEST
Somerset -16 F 0430 AM 01/20 CWOP
Claysville -16 F 0430 AM 01/20 CWOP
HOLLSOPLE -13 F 0410 AM 01/20 CWOP
CENTRAL CITY -12 F 0617 AM 01/20 CWOP
Meyersdale -11 F 0512 AM 01/20 CWOP
Jerome -11 F 0425 AM 01/20 DAVIS
HOLLSOPPLE -11 F 0519 AM 01/20 CWOP

...Sullivan County...
Dushore -14 F 0458 AM 01/20 CWOP
DUSHORE -11 F 0632 AM 01/20 CWOP
Dushore -10 F 0335 AM 01/20 DAVIS

...Tioga County...
Wellsboro Airport -18 F 0615 AM 01/20 AWOS
Westfield -13 F 0530 AM 01/20 CWOP
Mansfield -13 F 0545 AM 01/20 CWOP
5 SW Blossburg -11 F 0510 AM 01/20 PADOT
Wellsboro -11 F 0635 AM 01/20 CWOP

...Warren County...
Tidioute -12 F 0620 AM 01/20 AWS
&&

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers
for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.

$$