Summers in Misericordia University are cooler than in 88% of U.S. towns
Deep winter brings January lows near 17°. By January nights alone, it runs colder than 76% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.6°, most of all in December. Central heating does most of its work from November to April, in months below 50° on average.
A year in Misericordia University at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Misericordia University’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Misericordia University’s place in Pennsylvania beside it.
What a year in Misericordia University feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 178 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 23 and the first by October 20. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Wilkes-barre International Airport, 13 miles from the town’s center, 350 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Misericordia University’s center in zone 6a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −6°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 45 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Wilkes-barre International Airport, is heaviest from January through February, about 11 inches a month. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 44 inches a year; September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 139 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Misericordia University
88% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through April.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Wilkes-barre International Airport.
Living with Misericordia University’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
178 frost-free days in zone 6a. The last frost comes by Apr 23 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.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June, July, August and September.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Misericordia University from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (55%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 25%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Misericordia University and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Misericordia University yet.
Climates most like Misericordia University’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Misericordia University, PA | 17° | 81° | 44" | 45" |
| Aurora, OH | 19° | 82° | 42" | 45" |
| Sand Lake, NY | 15° | 82° | 43" | 53" |
| Durham, NH | 16° | 81° | 47" | 39" |
| Topsfield, MA | 18° | 82° | 47" | 48" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Misericordia University averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.2°).
A bigger shift than in 64% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Misericordia University compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Misericordia University’s place among Pennsylvania’s.
Misericordia University weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Misericordia University’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Wilkes-barre International Airport. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33° | 17° | 3.1" | 11.7" | 13 | 15° – 33° |
| February | 36° | 19° | 2.4" | 10.9" | 11 | 15° – 34° |
| March | 44° | 26° | 3.4" | 10.1" | 12 | 28° – 47° |
| April | 58° | 36° | 3.9" | 0.8" | 12 | 42° – 53° |
| May | 69° | 47° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 13 | 52° – 64° |
| June | 76° | 56° | 4.1" | 0.0" | 13 | 63° – 70° |
| July | 81° | 60° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 11 | 66° – 75° |
| August | 79° | 58° | 4.1" | 0.0" | 11 | 64° – 72° |
| September | 72° | 51° | 4.3" | 0.0" | 10 | 58° – 66° |
| October | 60° | 41° | 4.3" | 0.7" | 11 | 46° – 57° |
| November | 48° | 32° | 3.1" | 3.2" | 10 | 33° – 45° |
| December | 37° | 23° | 3.3" | 7.7" | 12 | 21° – 42° |
| Year | 58° | 39° | 43.5" | 45.1" | 139 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 21° to 42°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Where Misericordia University’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Misericordia University’s center.
- Snow: Wilkes-barre International Airport.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Wilkes-barre International Airport, 13 miles from the town’s center, 350 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Misericordia University’s climate
What is the weather like in Misericordia University?
A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 45 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 76% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 88% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Misericordia University in winter?
January nights average 17°. About 122 nights a year reach 32° or below and 3 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 15°.
How much snow does Misericordia University get?
About 45 inches in a normal winter at Wilkes-barre International Airport, heaviest from January through February, about 11 inches a month.
How hot does it get in Misericordia University?
July, with a typical high of 81° and a low of 60°. About 12 days a year reach 90° (Wilkes-barre International Airport).
When is the first and last frost in Misericordia University?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by April 23 and the first fall frost by October 20, about 178 frost-free days, at Wilkes-barre International Airport.
What growing zone is Misericordia University in?
Zone 6a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −6°.
What is the best time of year to visit Misericordia University?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), May, June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Misericordia University getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.6° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 64% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Misericordia University.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.