Pennsylvania Weather Records
The official all-time extremes for Pennsylvania, as NOAA’s State Climate Extremes Committee lists them: from 111°F at Phoenixville to -42°F at Smethport.
Maximum Temperature
| Record | Date | Where | Station | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111°F | July 10, 1936 | Phoenixville | 366927 | E1 |
| 111°F | July 9, 1936 | Phoenixville | 366927 | E1 |
Minimum Temperature
| Record | Date | Where | Station | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -42°F | January 5, 1904 | Smethport | 368190 | E: Value is unchanged from previous extremes tables last updated by NCEI (formerly NCDC) between 1998 and 2006. Value exceeds all other valid values. |
Greatest 24-Hour Precipitation
| Record | Date | Where | Station | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.5 inches | June 22, 1972 | York 3SSW Pump Stn | 369933 | NA |
Arguably the greatest 24-hour rainfall on record outside of the tropics occurred around Smethport, PA on July 17, 1942. A post-event survey by the Weather Bureau provided a widely accepted maximum storm rainfall of 34.50 inches within a 12 hour period, of which an estimated 30.60 inches fell in just 6 hours. However, the greatest observed 24-hr rain fall for Pennsylvania occurred in conjunction with Hurricane Agnes in 1972.
Maximum 24-Hour Snowfall
| Record | Date | Where | Station | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 inches | February 15, 1958 to February 16, 1958 | Lakeville 1NNE | 364733 | NSA |
Lakeville 1NNE was the official name for this station when the record was set during 1958. The name of the station when the record was identified in 2021 was Lakeville 2NNE, which is reflected in the station metadata. This Lakeville value replaced the previously reported record of 38 inches, set at Morgantown (COOP ID: 365956) on 20 March 1958. More details are available in the report associated with this investigation.
Monthly Maximum Snowfall
| Record | Date | Where | Station | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117.8 inches | February 1, 2010 to February 28, 2010 | Laurel Summit | 364839 | NSA |
A potential monthly snowfall record of 120.9 inches was reported for December 2017 at Erie International Airport. This value was examined by the SCEC during the following year. The SCEC found that observational practices associated with the Erie total reduced confidence in the value. The SCEC determined by a 4-1 vote that the existing Laurel Summit record be upheld.View Erie Dec 2017 reportView Laurel Summit Feb 2010 report
Maximum Snow Depth
| Record | Date | Where | Station | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 inches | March 23, 1958 | Gouldsboro | 363394 | N1 |
| 60 inches | March 22, 1958 | Gouldsboro | 363394 | N1 |
More
Every storm in Pennsylvania since 1950Every tornado in PennsylvaniaEvery state
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, State Climate Extremes Committee records.