McElhattan has chilly winters and warm summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 30 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in McElhattan at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about McElhattan’s climate
Read from where McElhattan sits among Pennsylvania’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
30 inches of snow, 41 of rain and melt
July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 136 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
About 173 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 30 and the first by October 20.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
What a year in McElhattan feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
Living with McElhattan’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
173 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 30 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 20.
About 30" a winter over 10 days with an inch or more, most in February. Snow covers the ground about 37 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 89% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 18 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 86°.
The nicest months are May, June, August, September and October. 1.7 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →McElhattan and its neighbors
Wayne has the coldest January nights next door (18°) and Pine Creek the hottest July afternoons (85°). Tap a town to see its climate.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in McElhattan averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.7°).
A smaller shift than in 63% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How McElhattan compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Pennsylvania.
McElhattan weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35° | 19° | 2.8" | 7.5" | 12 | 12 | 18° – 35° |
| February | 39° | 20° | 2.2" | 7.9" | 10 | 12 | 17° – 37° |
| March | 49° | 27° | 3.0" | 6.2" | 11 | 6 | 31° – 48° |
| April | 63° | 37° | 3.4" | 0.6" | 12 | 0 | 45° – 56° |
| May | 73° | 47° | 4.0" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 55° – 66° |
| June | 81° | 56° | 3.9" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 65° – 72° |
| July | 86° | 61° | 4.2" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 68° – 77° |
| August | 83° | 59° | 3.7" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 67° – 76° |
| September | 76° | 52° | 4.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 61° – 68° |
| October | 64° | 41° | 3.7" | 0.1" | 11 | 0 | 48° – 59° |
| November | 51° | 32° | 3.0" | 1.4" | 11 | 1 | 36° – 46° |
| December | 40° | 25° | 2.9" | 5.9" | 12 | 6 | 24° – 41° |
| Year | 62° | 40° | 40.8" | 29.6" | 136 | 37 |
Heating and cooling a home in McElhattan
89% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 17° to 37°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about McElhattan’s climate
What is the coldest month in McElhattan?
January, with a typical high of 35° and a low of 19°.
What is the hottest month in McElhattan?
July, with a typical high of 86° and a low of 61°. About 18 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does McElhattan get?
About 30 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in McElhattan?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 20, and the last spring frost by April 30.
What is the rainiest month in McElhattan?
July, with 4.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 41 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in McElhattan.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for McElhattan itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Lock Haven Sewage Plt, PA (4 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.