Penn State - Weather

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

State College is notorious for some weird weather. Don’t ever get too comfortable with a climate because chances are, it will change tomorrow. Sub-freezing temperatures in April? All that means is a warm and sunny day is on the horizon. It snows a lot in winter, but it rarely accumulates. It will snow and flurry just enough to make the roads wet and inconvenient, but never enough to get a snow day. Winter can be a very frustrating time in Happy Valley.

Spring and autumn are particularly beautiful in Central Pennsylvania. The entire region is surrounded by forests and mountains, and there is a lot of open country if you appreciate natural landscapes. During the summer, if you’re still around, it can get very hot—upwards of 90 degrees, with high humidity. This huge variation in climate means that you’ll want to be prepared for every type of weather. While climate might not be a make-or-break factor in choosing a college, it’s definitely a something to consider—especially when you’re packing or buying clothes to accommodate sub-zero to sub-tropical temperatures.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The weather is nuts here. It can... The weather is nuts here. It can be sunny and warm one day, and snowing the next. No, wait, I mean it can do all that in one day. In general, it is cold. ‘Spring’ semester it is freezing and snowing, until finals week when it gets warm just when you should be inside studying. Any day that parents come up, like for football games and parent’s weekend, it is inevitably beautiful and warm. 12345 Weather Report

Anonymous says:

Sometime in October, the wind... Sometime in October, the wind starts blowing and doesn’t stop until about April or May. When April rolls around, it will be about 90 degrees one day, then 10 degrees the next. Needless to say, bring a variety of clothing and a heavy coat. 12345 Weather Report

Anonymous says:

Warm clothes are a necessity. You... Warm clothes are a necessity. You will be wearing more winter items than summer. 12345 Weather Report

Anonymous says:

Since we’re in a valley (Happy... Since we’re in a valley (Happy Valley), it tends to rain and be overcast a lot. Winters get pretty cold and snowy. 12345 Weather Report

Anonymous says:

We’re stuck in a valley surrounded... We’re stuck in a valley surrounded by mountains where all the clouds get stuck. So we rarely see the sun, and it rains a lot. Bring a jacket. 12345 Weather Report

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