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Downtown-WilliamsportPhoto: Djorion · CC BY-SA 3.0
Climate in Williamsport · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

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

The coldest hours of a January night bottom out at 19° on average. Precipitation peaks in July and eases off in February. By January nights alone, it runs colder than 63% of U.S. towns. Garden planting can start around April 25; autumn frost returns near October 24.

More snow than 69% of U.S. towns#263Snowiest  of 993 in PA
Colder January nights than 63% of U.S. towns#285 coldest of 1,005 in PA
All PA rankings →

A year in Williamsport at a glance

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

Jan35°19° 10" snow
Feb39°20° 9" snow
Mar49°28° 7" snow
Apr62°37° Last frost ~Apr 25
May73°48° 2 days 90°+
Jun81°57° 5 days 90°+
Jul85°62° 10 days 90°+Wettest
Aug83°60° 6 days 90°+
Sep76°53° 2 days 90°+
Oct64°41° First frost ~Oct 24
Nov now51°32°
Dec40°25° 7" snow

What stands out about Williamsport’s climate

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

A normal year

What a year in Williamsport feels like

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

Winter
38° / 22°
10 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
61° / 38°
Last frost around Apr 25
Summer
83° / 60°
25 days reach 90°
Fall
63° / 42°
First frost around Oct 24
Best months to be outsideMayJunAugSepOctHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost, heat & the growing season

About 181 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 25 and the first by October 24. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Williamsport 2, PA, 2.8 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.

118
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
647th most of 1,005 in Pennsylvania
More freezing nights than 54% of U.S. towns
2
nights at or below 0°
377th fewest of 1,005 in Pennsylvania
Fewer nights at or below 0° than 52% of U.S. towns
25
days that reach 90°
124th most of 1,005 in Pennsylvania
More 90° days than 58% of U.S. towns
<1
days that reach 100°
202nd most of 1,005 in Pennsylvania
More 100° days than 52% of U.S. towns
6bUSDA zone
Plant hardiness zone 6b

The 2023 USDA map puts Williamsport’s center in zone 6b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −1°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

27
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

10
JFMAMJJASOND
Rain & snow

About 36 inches of snow a winter

Snow, measured at Williamsport, PA, is heaviest from January through February, about 10 inches a month. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 43 inches a year; July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 137 days a year.

43"
Rain + melted snow a year
720th wettest of 1,005 in Pennsylvania
Wetter than 53% of U.S. towns
36"
Snow in a normal winter
263rd snowiest of 993 in Pennsylvania
More snow than 69% of U.S. towns
37 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
327th most of 821 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

10"
JFMAMJJASOND
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Williamsport

86% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through April.

5,674 heating degree daysMore heating than 59% of U.S. towns
887 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 53% 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 Williamsport 2, PA.

Living here

Living with Williamsport’s climate

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

The garden window

181 frost-free days in zone 6b. The last frost comes by Apr 25 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 24.

Get outside

Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June, August, September and October. 2.0 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Williamsport from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (72%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 6%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.

Natural hazards →
Next door

Williamsport and its neighbors

Armstrong Township has the coldest January nights next door (18°, 2° colder). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.

Montoursville: January low 19°, July high 85°Upper Fairfield Township: January low 18°, July high 83°Fairfield Township: January low 19°, July high 84°Kenmar: January low 19°, July high 85°Eldred Township: January low 18°, July high 84°Hepburn Township: January low 18°, July high 84°Lycoming Township: January low 18°, July high 85°Piatt Township: January low 19°, July high 85°Anthony Township: January low 18°, July high 84°Washington Township: January low 18°, July high 83°Brady Township: January low 19°, July high 84°Clinton Township: January low 19°, July high 85°Bastress Township: January low 17°, July high 82°Loyalsock Township: January low 19°, July high 84°South Williamsport: January low 19°, July high 85°Duboistown: January low 19°, July high 85°Woodward Township: January low 19°, July high 86°Old Lycoming Township: January low 19°, July high 85°Armstrong Township: January low 18°, July high 82°Garden View: January low 19°, July high 85°Faxon: January low 19°, July high 84°Susquehanna Township: January low 18°, July high 83°Williamsport: January low 19°, July high 85°WilliamsportLoyalsock TownshipSouth WilliamsportDuboistownWoodward TownshipOld Lycoming TownshipArmstrong TownshipGarden ViewFaxonSusquehanna Township
ColderMilder17° to 19°
Armstrong Township17.5° −1.8°
Susquehanna Township17.8° −1.5°
Loyalsock Township18.8° about the same
Old Lycoming Township18.8° about the same
Garden View18.8° about the same
Faxon18.8° about the same
Woodward Township18.9° about the same
Williamsport19.3°
South Williamsport19.3° about the same
Duboistown19.3° about the same

Climates most like Williamsport’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
Williamsport, PA19°85°43"36"
Wappinger, NY19°85°44"36"
Middletown, CT20°85°46"39"
Hartford City, IN19°84°41"32"
Gahanna, OH21°85°42"28"

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 Williamsport averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.9°).

+1.3°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A smaller shift than in 52% of U.S. towns.

Winter+2.2°now 30°, was 28°
Spring+0.9°now 49°, was 49°
Summer+1.1°now 71°, was 70°
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 Williamsport compares

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

Summer heat85° July high
Hotter July afternoons than 51% of U.S. towns365th hottest of 1,005 in Pennsylvania
Winter cold19° January low
Colder January nights than 63% of U.S. towns285th coldest of 1,005 in Pennsylvania
Precipitation43" a year
Wetter than 53% of U.S. towns720th wettest of 1,005 in Pennsylvania
Snow36" a winter
More snow than 69% of U.S. towns263rd snowiest of 993 in Pennsylvania
Hot days25 days at 90°+
More 90° days than 58% of U.S. towns124th most of 1,005 in Pennsylvania
Freezing nights118 a year
More freezing nights than 54% of U.S. towns647th most of 1,005 in Pennsylvania
Growing season181 frost-free days
A shorter frost-free season than 55% of U.S. towns520th shortest of 1,005 in Pennsylvania
Month by month

Williamsport weather by month

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

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January35°19°3.1"9.7"121118° – 35°
February39°20°2.4"9.3"101318° – 37°
March49°28°3.3"7.3"12632° – 48°
April62°37°3.7"0.8"12045° – 56°
May73°48°3.8"0.0"14055° – 66°
June81°57°4.1"0.0"12066° – 72°
July85°62°4.6"0.0"12069° – 77°
August83°60°3.9"0.0"11068° – 76°
September76°53°4.4"0.0"10061° – 69°
October64°41°3.8"0.1"11048° – 58°
November51°32°3.2"1.7"10136° – 46°
December40°25°3.3"6.9"12624° – 42°
Year61°40°43.4"35.8"13737
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 18° to 37°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal
Sources

Where Williamsport’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 Williamsport’s center.
  • Snow: Williamsport, PA.
  • Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Williamsport 2, PA, 2.8 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 Williamsport’s climate

What is the weather like in Williamsport?

A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 63% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 51% of U.S. towns.

How cold does it get in Williamsport in winter?

January nights average 19°. About 118 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 18°.

How much snow does Williamsport get?

About 36 inches in a normal winter at Williamsport, PA, heaviest from January through February, about 10 inches a month, with snow on the ground about 37 days a year.

How hot does it get in Williamsport?

July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 62°. About 25 days a year reach 90° (Williamsport 2, PA).

When is the first and last frost in Williamsport?

In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by April 25 and the first fall frost by October 24, about 181 frost-free days, at Williamsport 2, PA.

What growing zone is Williamsport in?

Zone 6b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −1°.

What is the best time of year to visit Williamsport?

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 Williamsport getting warmer?

Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.3° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 52% of U.S. towns.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Williamsport.

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.