‘Ferocious blast of cold air’ could set records in Pennsylvania. Here’s the forecast
Near-record-low temperatures are expected for central Pennsylvania next week as frigid air moves across the country.
Some parts of the U.S. from the Mid-Atlantic to the Southeast could observe dangerously low temperatures thanks to an outbreak of Arctic air flowing down from the north. The latest outlook from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center expects at least an 80 or 90% chance of observing below-normal temperatures from Pennsylvania down to Texas between Jan. 20 and 24.
So, what could be in store for Centre County and the rest of central Pennsylvania? Here’s what you need to know.
Freezing temperatures in the forecast
No matter how central Pennsylvania’s upcoming forecast pans out, it will almost certainly be a frigid week across the Keystone State.
AccuWeather’s forecast for State College calls for high temperatures in the mid-30s and upper 20s over the weekend before dropping to 17 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday. The area’s cold spell is expected to continue Tuesday when the high drops to 10 degrees and a low of -3 degrees. The forecast’s “RealFeel” index suggests temperatures will feel like -4 degrees in the early afternoon before dropping to feel like -11 degrees overnight.
“I’m not sure ‘cold’ does it justice for next week,” said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines. “This is a ferocious blast of cold air heading our way. Before it gets here, though, temperatures are going to moderate over the weekend with at least a few days having a good shot of getting above freezing if everything goes our way. But once this so-called moderate air leaves, it gets brutally cold next week.”
“We could certainly see a few consecutive days where the temperature doesn’t get above 20, and that certainly doesn’t happen every winter,” he added. “This is coming from the polar region, and when [cold air] comes from so far up north, it means business.”
The bitter cold in State College should continue Wednesday with a high of 15 degrees before warming up to 25, 27 and 33 degree-highs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, according to the forecast. The area should see high temperatures above freezing starting with a 33-degree high on Saturday, followed by 39 degrees on Sunday and Monday.
Over the next week or so, wind could make temperatures feel even colder. The NWS says wind chills could reach -20 degrees between Monday and Wednesday.
“Those who need to venture out next week need to take action to prevent frostbite and hypothermia,” Kines said. “When temperatures get this cold, into the single digits and teens, it doesn’t take long for those conditions to set in. Gloves, hats, mittens, jackets and all that winter stuff are definitely needed next week.”
Incoming Arctic air could help State College approach record-low temperatures next week. According to NWS archive data stretching back to 1893, the lowest temperatures recorded in State College on Jan. 21 were a high of -3 degrees and a low of -17 in 1985. That year’s Jan. 22 saw a high temperature of 9 degrees and a low of -15, both of which were also the lowest on record.
Is any snow on the way?
Though the State College area could see some snow showers over the weekend, the incoming Arctic air isn’t expected to bring much in the way of accumulation.
“There could certainly be some snow over the weekend, but I don’t think it would amount to much,” Kines said. “Maybe an inch or so at some point.”
So far this season, State College has received near-normal snowfall. The area has recorded about 14.3 inches of snow since the winter season began, falling just shy of the 15.1 inches expected up to that point in an average year.
Last winter, State College had received only roughly 8.8 inches of snow up to Jan. 15. The winter season produced about 22 total inches of snow, amounting to roughly half of a normal season.
This story was originally published January 15, 2025 at 1:49 PM.
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