Last year was the wettest on record in Centre County. Here’s how 2019 compared, and what’s next
After Centre County had its wettest year on record in 2018, residents got a break from the rain in 2019, but they won’t be able to escape predicted winter weather in 2020.
The most recent data from the National Weather Service reports that State College received a total 39.62 inches of rain this year — a 24.11 decrease from last year. June, the wettest month of the year, saw 4.11 inches of precipitation. Last year, State College received a total of 63.73 inches with 172 days with measurable precipitation, at least half of the days in the year.
“The big takeaway is that we saw the reversal of what we felt with 2018,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Tyler Roys.
This summer, Centre County saw a lot of “drought-like days,” Roys said.
Come fall, leaf peepers were met with muted foliage for a second year in a row — the result of a hot, dry late summer and early fall. Initially, meteorologists predicted a bright, vibrant fall season, but the weather took a different approach.
“A lot of it has to do with the record or near-record temperatures we’ve had in late September, early October and also the very severe drought,” Marc Abrams, Penn State professor of forest ecology and physiology, said in October. “Through September was exceptionally dry, about 25% to 75% below average precipitation.”
September came with 3.57 inches of precipitation, and Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, said the late summer drought caused the leaves to “die off a little bit too fast.”
Mid-December, residents were met with a bout of snow, sleet and freezing rain that caused school delays. But Roys said the majority of winter weather — snow, cold and ice — will begin in the new year.
“We do expect the cold that came in November will go into January and February, with temperatures below normal,” Roys said. “With that, there will be an increase in snow.”
Officials predict the majority of snow to fall in February and trickle into March, but Roys said flurries wouldn’t be surprising to see in January.
Starting in February, “those who love snow will be very happy” about predicted winter storms.
“Those will linger into March,” Roys said.
