The Coldest December to Ever Paralyze Pennsylvania

Although December is known to be rather chilly in Pennsylvania, the month isn’t usually as frigid as the one in 1989. December 1989 was the coldest December ever recorded in Pennsylvania. According to data from NOAA, Pennsylvania recorded a mean temperature that month of just 17.4 degrees Fahrenheit. 

What is Pennsylvania’s Average Weather in December?

December in Pennsylvania, while not the coldest month in the state, does get pretty chilly. The daytime high temperatures average around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, with the lows at night around 24 degrees Fahrenheit. The overall mean temperature in December is 28.9 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is not unheard of during December. On average, Pennsylvania may get about three days of precipitation during the month, which could be rain, snow, or an icy mix, depending on the temperature. 

What Was the Coldest December Ever in Pennsylvania?

In 1989, the mean temperature for December, spanning the entire state, was recorded at 17.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This frigid month was 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit below the average mean December temperature.

This December was not just unusually cold for Pennsylvania but for the entire region. It is on record as the coldest December for the Lake Erie snowbelt of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Not only cold, but most of the month was overcast with snow or drizzle. In fact, snow or freezing drizzle fell on nearly every day of the month. In a positive turn of events, the cold temps and snowy weather contributed to one of the best December ski seasons for the region. 

What is the Coldest Day on Record in December for Pennsylvania?

While the year with the coldest mean temperature for December occurred in 1989, it was not the year when the single coldest December Day occurred. The coldest day on record for a December in Pennsylvania happened on Christmas Day, December 25, 1980. On this day, the low was recorded at 29 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. This is 53 degrees Fahrenheit below the average low. 

What Was the Snowiest December in Pennsylvania?

The snowiest December in Pennsylvania was not the coldest. In December of 1890, a record-setting total of 96 inches of snow fell on Blue Knob Mountain. As the second-highest mountain in Pennsylvania, Blue Knob tends to get a lot of snow, however, this was an especially snowy December for the region. The average snowfall on Blue Knob for the entire season is around seven feet.

How Does Pennsylvania Wildlife Survive the Cold?

When the snow falls and temperatures begin to plummet, wild animals in Pennsylvania know what to do. Animals that hibernate, like bears, will already be in their dens or caves by December. Chipmunks aren’t true hibernators but enter a stage of sleep known as torpor. Other animals, such as white-tail deer, grow thick warm coats of fur to keep them warm all winter. Deer seek shelter under trees and shrubs during snow and ice storms. 

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