Pennsylvania Weather Review: December 2025
Pennsylvania Weather Review: December 2025
The last month of 2025 was a busy month weather-wise with plenty of winter chill and frozen precipitation. Let's not waste anytime and get started reviewing December 2025.December Highlights
The first widespread snow of the season arrived on the second day of December. The Poconos received the highest amounts with over 6" falling there. Temperatures dipped into the single digits on the morning of the 5th with some locations dropping below zero. The coldest morning of the month came on the 9th with the majority of Pennsylvania dropping into the single digits.
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| 24 hour observed minimum temperatures ending at 7am on December 9, 2025. Source. |
Some mixed precipitation fell on the 10th, but was primarily light. Another snow event on the 14th brought 6" to 8" of snow to southwestern and southeastern Pennsylvania. 4.2" of snow was measured in Philadelphia. 8.0" in Doylestown was the snowiest day there since February 2021! Season to date snowfall was above average for all but portions of central PA.
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| 48 hour snowfall totals ending 12z on December 15, 2025. Source. |
Following the snow was more arctic air. With the snowpack, temperatures dropped into the single digits on the 15th and 16th. As of the 16th, many locations had recorded colder than average temperatures for 20 consecutive days! Temperatures quickly warmed up to the warmest temperatures of the month thus far with highs in the 40s on the 17th. Temperatures on the morning of the 17th were as much as 40° warmer compared to 24 hours prior.
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| 24 hour temperature change as of 12z on December 17, 2025. Source. |
Warming continued with highs in the 50s on the 18th and 19th. It didn't last as a strong cold front swept across the state on the 19th. This front brought a large temperature drop of ~10° in one hour. High wind caused 100,000 customers to be without power and squalls brought a quick coating of snow.
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| Traffic camera images from Altoona show icicles around the city on December 26, 2025. |
A light icing on the morning of the 23rd caused schools to begin the winter break early. The weather was quiet for Christmas, but the a weather disruption would come the 26th. Ice Storm Warnings were issued for portions of central & western PA with almost all of the remaining portions of the state under a Winter Weather Advisory or Winter Storm Warning. Sleet & freezing rain caused many accidents and road closures. Over a quarter inch of ice accretion was observed in the central mountains. There was thunder sleet and thunder freezing rain observed, too!
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| Mesoscale Discussion from the Storm Prediction Center on December 31, 2025 highlighting a developing snow squall that would impact travel in the coming hours in northwestern Pennsylvania. Source. |
Another push of arctic air brought high winds with snow showers & squalls on the 29th. Nearly 50,000 customers were without power on the 29th. New Years Eve brought a snowy end to 2025 with a snow squall stretched across the state to ring in the new year.
December Statistics
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| Pennsylvania temperature and precipitation statistics for December. |
December 2025 was cold statewide with departures of 3° to more than 6° below average. The entire state was also generally drier than average, though most locations were within an inch of average.
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| Summary of temperatures for the first half of December compared to average. |
Average temperatures through the first 15 days of the month were 7° to nearly 14° below average across the state. This ranked as a top 10 coldest first half of December on record and was the coldest since in 20+ years for most of the state. The second half of the month brought warmer temperatures, the cold start locked in a colder than average December statewide and the coldest December in 10 years.
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| Snow totals (left) and snowfall departures (right) for December 2025. Source. |
Along with the cold temperatures, above average snowfall was observed. Northwest Pennsylvania recorded 25"+ for the month. South central Pennsylvania was the only part of the state that had below average snowfall.
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| Drought Monitor as of December 30, 2025 (right), and drought change from December 2nd to December 30th. Source. |
Drought intensified across central Pennsylvania during the month of December. Moderate Drought & Severe Drought combined increased from 18.99% to 46.05% between the beginning and end of December. We'll keep an eye on the drought conditions in the coming weeks and months.
Webcam Image of the Month
A snowy view around Independence Hall in Philadelphia with 4.2" falling on the morning of December 14th.
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| A view of Independence Hall in Philadelphia with fresh snow on 12/14/2025. Source. |
Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead
Although this reviewed the last month of 2025, I'm not quite done with 2025 reviews. I will have one more post reviewing 2025 once the official state temperature and precipitation statistics are are released in mid-January.
Thanks for stopping by and remember to always look up!
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