The Christmas Heatwave That Turned Pennsylvania Into a Tropical Paradise

Winters in Pennsylvania tend to run cold. Temperatures between 20 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit are the norm. Particularly in the northern and more remote western parts of Pennsylvania, a white Christmas is not a dream – it can easily be a reality, with winter storms bringing snowfall from December onward. These cooler temperatures bring opportunities for plenty of fun too, from ice fishing and ice skating to snowmobiling and snowshoeing. What could be better than a cozy snowy Christmas day spent building snowmen and reveling in the winter wonderland? However, Pennsylvania has been known to have some unseasonably warm days. This article covers a Pennsylvania heatwave that made one Christmas season a lot warmer than usual. Let’s jump in to learn about the hottest December in Pennsylvania on record now.

The Hottest December in Pennsylvania History

In 2015, the hottest December in Pennsylvania history shattered the previous record by over 4 degrees Fahrenheit! Across Pennsylvania, over 80 different temperature stations captured the record-breaking weather. In Hanover, Pennsylvania, the average daily high temperature recorded for December was 53 degrees. In Harrisburg, the average December temperature hit 45.4 degrees. 

The Hottest Day in December in Pennsylvania History

In 2022, December hit both record warms and record colds. In the afternoon of December 30th, the temperature station at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport captured a record high of 58 degrees. This new high beat the previous single December day record of 57 degrees, which was set over 40 years prior in 1984. This record heat came just a week after Christmas Eve, which saw record-cold weather of only 10 degrees in the Scranton area. 

The Warmest Winter in Pennsylvania History

Despite the high temperatures, the 2015-2016 winter did not steal Pennsylvania’s record for warmest winter season. In fact, the hottest Pennsylvania winter was almost 100 years ago, in 1931-1932’s winter season. Nevertheless, 2015-2016 was among the warmest winters known to Pennsylvania residents. Many factors contributed to the warmer temperatures, including the El Nino weather phenomenon and fewer solar storms in 2015 than in most years. 

What’s Next for Pennsylvania?

Since Pennsylvania has seen record highs in recent years and climate change continues to impact the weather throughout the country, Pennsylvania residents can expect that more record-breaking days are likely ahead.