Climate
Pennsylvania's diverse topography also produces a variety of climates, though the entire state experiences cold winters and humid summers. Straddling two major zones, the majority of the state, with the exception of the southeastern corner, has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa). Greater Philadelphia has some characteristics of the humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) that covers much of Delaware and Maryland to the south.
Moving toward the mountainous interior of the state, the winter climate becomes markedly colder, the number of cloudy days increases, and snowfall amounts are greater. Western areas of the state, particularly locations near Lake Erie, can receive over 100 inches (250 cm) of snowfall annually, and the entire state receives plentiful precipitation throughout the year. The state may be subject to severe weather from spring through summer into fall, as an average of 10 tornadoes touch down each year in the state.
| Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Pennsylvania Cities in °F | ||||||||||||
| City | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May. | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton | 34/19 | 37/21 | 47/28 | 59/39 | 70/48 | 78/57 | 82/62 | 80/60 | 73/53 | 61/42 | 50/34 | 38/24 |
| Erie | 34/21 | 36/21 | 44/28 | 56/38 | 67/48 | 76/59 | 80/64 | 79/63 | 72/56 | 61/46 | 50/37 | 38/27 |
| Pittsburgh | 36/21 | 40/23 | 50/30 | 62/40 | 71/49 | 79/58 | 83/63 | 82/62 | 75/54 | 63/43 | 52/35 | 40/25 |
| Harrisburg | 38/23 | 41/24 | 51/32 | 64/42 | 73/52 | 82/63 | 86/67 | 84/66 | 77/58 | 65/45 | 54/36 | 42/27 |
| Philadelphia | 40/26 | 44/28 | 53/34 | 64/44 | 74/54 | 83/64 | 87/69 | 85/68 | 78/60 | 67/48 | 56/39 | 45/30 |
| Allentown | 36/21 | 40/23 | 50/30 | 62/40 | 72/49 | 80/59 | 85/64 | 83/62 | 75/54 | 64/42 | 53/34 | 41/25 |
| East Stroudsburg | 35/16 | 39/17 | 49/26 | 61/36 | 72/46 | 80/55 | 85/59 | 83/58 | 75/50 | 64/38 | 51/30 | 40/22 |
| , ,
, East Stroudsburg |
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Read more about this topic: Economy Of Pennsylvania
Famous quotes containing the word climate:
“Is not their climate foggy, raw, and dull,
On whom, as in despite, the sun looks pale,
Killing their fruit with frowns?”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“The climate has been described as “ten months winter and two months mighty late in the fall.””
—Administration in the State of Colo, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“A tree is beautiful, but what’s more, it has a right to life; like water, the sun and the stars, it is essential. Life on earth is inconceivable without trees. Forests create climate, climate influences peoples’ character, and so on and so forth. There can be neither civilization nor happiness if forests crash down under the axe, if the climate is harsh and severe, if people are also harsh and severe.... What a terrible future!”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)