State College boasts hottest summer on record — in 128 years. Here’s just how hot it was
State College’s air conditioners were working overtime this summer.
According to the National Weather Service, State College just experienced its hottest summer on record since data was first kept in 1892. Based on the average max temperature, Centre County’s largest town experienced temperatures that were nearly 6 degrees warmer than last summer, between the months of June and August.
During that timeframe, State College saw an average max temperature this year of 85.4 degrees — compared to last summer’s 79.6 degrees. That beat out the previous hottest summer in 1988 by a full degree (84.4).
“This is pretty rare,” said Amanda Wagner, a meteorologist at NWS State College. “There could’ve been times before the record that were hotter that we don’t have records of. But, looking at climate trends before 1800, there was a mini-ice age, so it would’ve been cooler.”
According to Wagner, this summer was hotter for a few reasons. For one, State College saw an inordinate number of high-pressure systems, which kept warm air flowing around the region. And there was also little rain in July and August, which meant there were fewer clouds to keep the temperature cooler.
Overall, State College experienced 13 days at 90 degrees or above in the past two months — nine in July and four in August. (June never got above 89 degrees.)
“We’re on a warming trend globally,” Wagner added.
Relief appears to be on the way, however.
According to AccuWeather’s latest forecast through Sept. 11, State College shouldn’t see a single day over 85 degrees while six of those days should be cooler than 80 degrees — including the four from Sept. 8 and on.
