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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Famous quotes containing the word climate:
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—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)
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—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)