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HENNINGER FARM COVERED BRIDGEPhoto: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0
Climate in Washington Township · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Summers, winters and rain in Washington Township all run close to those of most U.S. towns

Midsummer highs settle at about 84°. By precipitation alone, it ranks wetter than 62% of U.S. towns. December has warmed most since 1901–2000, part of a 1.4° rise. From May to June and August to October, highs of 64–82° make it easy to spend the day outdoors.

More snow than 58% of U.S. towns#515Snowiest  of 905 in PA
Colder January nights than 53% of U.S. towns#500 coldest of 915 in PA
All PA rankings →

A year in Washington Township at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan36°21° 8" snow
Feb39°22° 8" snow
Mar49°29° 5" snow
Apr62°39°
May72°49° Last frost ~May 11 day 90°+
Jun80°59° 3 days 90°+
Jul84°63° 6 days 90°+
Aug82°61° 4 days 90°+
Sep75°54° 1 day 90°+Wettest
Oct64°43° First frost ~Oct 16
Nov now51°33°
Dec41°26° 4" snow

What stands out about Washington Township’s climate

Compared with towns across the U.S., with Washington Township’s place in Pennsylvania beside it.

A normal year

What a year in Washington Township feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
39° / 23°
9 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
61° / 39°
Last frost around May 1
Summer
82° / 61°
14 days reach 90°
Fall
63° / 43°
First frost around Oct 16
Best months to be outsideMayJunAugSepOctHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost, heat & the growing season

About 168 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 1 and the first by October 16. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Dehart Dam, PA, 8 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.

128
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
327th most of 915 in Pennsylvania
More freezing nights than 66% of U.S. towns
2
nights at or below 0°
334th fewest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Fewer nights at or below 0° than 51% of U.S. towns
14
days that reach 90°
429th fewest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Fewer 90° days than 62% of U.S. towns
<1
days that reach 100°
135th most of 915 in Pennsylvania
More 100° days than 57% of U.S. towns
7aUSDA zone
Plant hardiness zone 7a

The 2023 USDA map puts Washington Township’s center in zone 7a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 0°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

28
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

5.6
JFMAMJJASOND
Rain & snow

About 28 inches of snow a winter

Snow, measured at Dehart Dam, PA, is heaviest from January through February, about 8 inches a month. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 45 inches a year; September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 117 days a year.

45"
Rain + melted snow a year
450th wettest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Wetter than 62% of U.S. towns
28"
Snow in a normal winter
515th snowiest of 905 in Pennsylvania
More snow than 58% of U.S. towns
36 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
321st most of 745 in Pennsylvania
More days with snow on the ground than 63% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.6"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

8"
JFMAMJJASOND
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Washington Township

90% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through April.

5,861 heating degree daysMore heating than 63% of U.S. towns
642 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 73% of U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Dehart Dam, PA.

Living here

Living with Washington Township’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.

The garden window

168 frost-free days in zone 7a. The last frost comes by May 1 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 16.

Get outside

Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June, August, September and October. 0.9 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Washington Township from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (72%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 8%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.

Natural hazards →
Next door

Washington Township and its neighbors

Jackson Township has the coldest January nights next door (19°, 2° colder). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.

Jordan Township: January low 20°, July high 84°Pillow: January low 21°, July high 84°Klingerstown: January low 20°, July high 84°Upper Mahantongo Township: January low 20°, July high 83°Jefferson Township: January low 19°, July high 81°Lykens: January low 19°, July high 82°Wayne Township: January low 22°, July high 84°Williams Township: January low 20°, July high 82°Wiconsico: January low 19°, July high 82°Lower Mahanoy Township: January low 21°, July high 84°Liverpool Township: January low 22°, July high 85°Buffalo Township: January low 22°, July high 85°Liverpool: January low 22°, July high 85°Halifax Township: January low 22°, July high 85°Lykens Township: January low 21°, July high 84°Jackson Township: January low 19°, July high 81°Wiconisco Township: January low 19°, July high 82°Mifflin Township: January low 21°, July high 84°Upper Paxton Township: January low 22°, July high 85°Washington Township: January low 21°, July high 84°Washington TownshipLykens TownshipJackson TownshipWiconisco TownshipMifflin TownshipUpper Paxton Township
ColderMilder19° to 22°
Jackson Township19.2° −2.0°
Wiconisco Township19.4° −1.8°
Lykens Township20.5° about the same
Mifflin Township21.0° about the same
Washington Township21.2°
Upper Paxton Township21.7° about the same

Climates most like Washington Township’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.

TownJan. lowJuly highPrecip.Snow
Washington Township, PA21°84°45"28"
Cumberland, IN20°85°44"27"
Wilmington, OH21°84°44"27"
New Martinsville, WV22°85°46"27"
East Haven, CT22°84°47"34"

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.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Washington Township averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.9°).

+1.4°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 55% of U.S. towns.

Winter+2.3°now 31°, was 29°
Spring+1.0°now 50°, was 49°
Summer+1.2°now 72°, was 71°
Fall+1.2°now 53°, was 52°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.

Compared with other towns

How Washington Township compares

Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Washington Township’s place among Pennsylvania’s.

Summer heat84° July high
Cooler July afternoons than 57% of U.S. towns441st coolest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Winter cold21° January low
Colder January nights than 53% of U.S. towns500th coldest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Precipitation45" a year
Wetter than 62% of U.S. towns450th wettest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Snow28" a winter
More snow than 58% of U.S. towns515th snowiest of 905 in Pennsylvania
Hot days14 days at 90°+
Fewer 90° days than 62% of U.S. towns429th fewest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Freezing nights128 a year
More freezing nights than 66% of U.S. towns327th most of 915 in Pennsylvania
Growing season168 frost-free days
A shorter frost-free season than 74% of U.S. towns176th shortest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Month by month

Washington Township weather by month

Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Washington Township’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Dehart Dam, PA. 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January36°21°3.2"8.4"91219° – 37°
February39°22°2.5"8.3"81419° – 38°
March49°29°3.7"5.1"9533° – 49°
April62°39°3.9"0.6"11046° – 55°
May72°49°4.0"0.0"13055° – 66°
June80°59°4.3"0.0"11066° – 73°
July84°63°4.5"0.0"10069° – 78°
August82°61°4.1"0.0"11068° – 75°
September75°54°4.6"0.0"9062° – 69°
October64°43°4.0"0.0"10048° – 60°
November51°33°3.2"0.8"8037° – 47°
December41°26°3.5"4.4"9525° – 43°
Year61°42°45.4"27.6"11736
Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 19° to 38°. September is the most reliable, staying within 7°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal
Sources

Where Washington Township’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 Washington Township’s center.
  • Snow: Dehart Dam, PA.
  • Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Dehart Dam, PA, 8 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; 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 Washington Township’s climate

What is the weather like in Washington Township?

A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 21°, and about 28 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 53% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 57% of U.S. towns.

How cold does it get in Washington Township in winter?

January nights average 21°. About 128 nights a year reach 32° or below and 2 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 19°.

How much snow does Washington Township get?

About 28 inches in a normal winter at Dehart Dam, PA, heaviest from January through February, about 8 inches a month, with snow on the ground about 36 days a year.

How hot does it get in Washington Township?

July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 63°. About 14 days a year reach 90° (Dehart Dam, PA).

When is the first and last frost in Washington Township?

In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 1 and the first fall frost by October 16, about 168 frost-free days, at Dehart Dam, PA.

What growing zone is Washington Township in?

Zone 7a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 0°.

What is the best time of year to visit Washington Township?

By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), May, June, August, September and October. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.

Is Washington Township getting warmer?

Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.4° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 55% of U.S. towns.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Washington Township.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.