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Pennsylvania Weather Summary February 2024: By: Ben Tomfohrde

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80 views

Pennsylvania Weather Summary February 2024: By: Ben Tomfohrde

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api-743618985
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© © All Rights Reserved
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THE PENNSYLVANIA OBSERVER – MARCH 4, 2024

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PENNSYLVANIA WEATHER SUMMARY
FEBRUARY 2024
By: Ben Tomfohrde

The start of February featured a relatively quiet stretch of weather across much of the
Commonwealth. High pressure dominated the Northeast United States for the first several days of
the month except for a weak area of low pressure on the 2nd and 3rd. This disturbance produced
light rain amounts, particularly in Eastern PA where upwards of a quarter of an inch fell. Mild
temperatures were recorded across much of Pennsylvania for the first week of the month. High
temperatures reached the 50s and 60s by the 8th and 9th of the month as a cold front approached
from the Midwest.
On the 9th and 10th, a strong low moved through the Great Lakes,
pulling warm air northward from the southern United States into the Commonwealth. The cold
front associated with the low swung through during this time bringing another round of mostly
light precipitation and brought more seasonal temperatures to the state as the middle of the month
approached.
On the 13th, a potent coastal storm impacted the state with a mix of rain and snow in far
southeastern Pennsylvania and mostly snow for parts of southern and central PA. An extremely
sharp snowfall gradient formed, stretching northward from the Laurel Highlands, Altoona, State
College, and Williamsport continuing northeastward through Scranton. Areas along and
north of this line saw minor snowfall accumulations (less than 2”). But, just southeast of this line,
a swath of heavy snowfall produced a broad area of 3-6”, with 8-12” falling in far east-central PA
in higher elevations, including the Poconos.
Following the storm, seasonable temperatures and quiet conditions prevailed before a
series of weak clippers took aim at the Commonwealth. The first being on the 15th with a period
of rain mixed with snow, at times, across primarily western and central PA. The second disturbance
on the 16th and 17th was a quick mover but produced disruptive snow for much of central and
southern PA. While the Northern tier received generally less than two or three inches, central and
southern portions of the state received 2-6”, with higher totals in east-central PA near Reading and
Allentown and the highest elevations of the Laurel Highlands.
After the storm’s departure, lake-effect snow showers impacted the state on the 17th with
colder air overspreading the region with winds out of the north and west. The coldest air of the
month brought high temperatures below freezing for parts of northern and western PA and low
temperatures statewide in the teens and single digits. Mild conditions would return quickly,
however, and would remain in place for much of the rest of the month except for a brief shot of
chill following a cold frontal passage on the 23rd and 24th. The end of the month ended in dramatic
fashion with a strong low cutting north through the Midwest and a strong cold front that would
bring thunderstorms, and even a few damaging wind reports in Southwest PA, followed by a 30°-
40°F drop in temperatures on the afternoon of the 28th into the morning of the 29th.
The month of February was one of the warmest on record with many observing sites
reporting a monthly average temperature ranking in the top three to five warmest with temperatures
generally averaging 4-8°F above normal statewide. On the contrary, precipitation was below
THE PENNSYLVANIA OBSERVER – MARCH 4, 2024
_____________________________________________________________________________________
normal across much of the state, with very little in the way of snowfall particularly across the lake-
effect snow belts of the north/west with the infrequent intrusions of colder air. Precipitation was
generally half to three-quarters of the normal levels except for some observing sites near the
Mason-Dixon Line in south-central PA that tallied near normal monthly totals.

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