Pennsylvania Climate – July 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, and Reading
Summary
July 2026 brought above-average warmth to Pennsylvania, accompanied by a modest increase in rainfall and localised fire activity. Globally, the month was the 3rd warmest July on record, while all of Pennsylvania's 3 wildfires this year happened in the past month. Meanwhile, a moderate El Niño in the tropical Pacific is forecast to peak at Very Strong between September and November, with elevated warmth expected to persist into autumn.
This month in numbers
Pennsylvania recorded an average temperature of 22.39°C in July 2026, which sits 1.3°C above the 1961-1990 baseline and ranks 21st highest for the month in records extending back 77 years. Maximum temperatures averaged 28.39°C, running 0.9°C warmer than typical midsummer levels. Total rainfall reached 125.48 mm, sitting 20.4 mm above average as the 23rd wettest July on record. Globally, land temperatures ran 1.6°C above average, marking the 3rd warmest July worldwide.
What changed
Taking a broader look across May to July 2026, Pennsylvania's three-month average temperature was 18.48°C, which sits 0.5°C above baseline as the 34th warmest such period on record. Over the same period, global land temperatures reached 14.34°C, 1.5°C above average, ranking as the 2nd warmest May to July span on record globally. Precipitation across the state remained near normal over the three-month span at 310.14 mm, just 5.5 mm below average.
What’s driving change?
The state's summer conditions were influenced by that drew warm, humid air into the Mid-Atlantic, alongside effects near major population centres. All of Pennsylvania's 3 wildfires this year happened in the past month, which are tracked on our live map at Extreme Weather tracker. The regional pattern is also being shaped by a moderate El Niño event in the equatorial Pacific, which is tracked at ENSO.
Looking ahead
Seasonal outlooks indicate that above-average temperatures are likely to persist across the Mid-Atlantic into autumn as El Niño intensifies in the coming months.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – USUnited States
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance — US states & climate regions (tavg, pcp), plus GPCC (Snow, water-equivalent). Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline. See methodology.
Typical Climate – Pennsylvania
Köppen Dfa · ContinentalPennsylvania has a continental climate (Köppen Dfa: Humid continental - hot summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 22.6°C, while January is the coldest at -2.3°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1175mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Monthly climate normals (2016–2025) - bar colour and height show average temperature, the shaded area shows average monthly rain, with snow (water-equivalent) shown separately.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Long-Term Trends
Combined Timeline – Pennsylvania
Precipitation, Sunshine, Frost and Snow are converted to standard deviations from their own average so they can share an axis with Temperature.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Heatwave Days – Pennsylvania
Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - days in a 6+ day run above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that time of year.
Data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5-derived). Refreshed roughly 1-2x/year, ~7-8 months behind present.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Pennsylvania
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Monthly Temperature – Pennsylvania
Background lines show the last 40 years (plus the record year and its opposite, wherever they fall).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Records – Pennsylvania
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)) - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfb · ContinentalHow spring and autumn have shifted in Pennsylvania. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (8.8°C, from 1950–1979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 25.2°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Feb (+3.3°C).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Pennsylvania
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
Statewide monthly temperature and precipitation (nClimDiv).
Frost Days and Heatwave Days (Warm Spell Duration Index), ERA5-derived. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
Monthly snow water-equivalent, Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD).
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Pennsylvania changing?
Pennsylvania is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
What is the climate like in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a continental climate (Köppen Dfa: Humid continental - hot summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 22.6°C, while January is the coldest at -2.3°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1175mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Where does the climate data for Pennsylvania come from?
Climate data for Pennsylvania comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Pennsylvania climate data cover?
The Pennsylvania climate profile covers Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie and surrounding areas. Pennsylvania climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Pennsylvania climate update refreshed?
The Pennsylvania climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.
What counts as a Heatwave Day on the Pennsylvania climate page?
Heatwave Days use the Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - the WMO/ETCCDI-standard heatwave measure: days that are part of a run of 6 or more consecutive days above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that calendar day. The 90th-percentile threshold varies by time of year (a hot day in January is judged differently to one in July) but is fixed to the 1961-1990 baseline for every year shown - it does not shift as the climate warms, which is why Heatwave Days trend upward over time.
Does the Pennsylvania climate page include frost and snow data?
Yes. Frost Days (days with a minimum temperature below 0°C, World Bank CCKP) and snow water-equivalent (GPCC) are shown alongside temperature and precipitation, each measured against the 1961-1990 baseline where a like-for-like historical comparison is available.