What are winters like in Philly? (Philadelphia: areas, summer, single)

[wiley9]

How long do they generally last?
Does it snow regularly, or only periodically?
Is it sunny or overcast most of the winter?

Thanks for your input!

[UDResident]

It varies. On average, we usually have at least one significant snowfall of 6 or more inches though sometimes we get a lot of snow and others no snow at all it seems. It usually lasts from late December to early March, though it used to start getting down to the 50s in November. The cold varies, too. Back in the 2000s, there was a winter where we had a week or two straight of subzero temps. I remember walking one morning when it was -20 outside. Then in 2010, we had a day or multiple days where it was 80 degrees or higher in December, and this past year we had a very mild winter. The season that is most prominent in this area is fall really.

It's the same all year 'round as far as sunny or overcast. There's nothing like a sunny day with a clear blue sky in this area though. I used to love walking around late afternoon before it gets dark on a clear, winter's day.

[Avalon08]

Originally Posted by wiley9

How long do they generally last?
Does it snow regularly, or only periodically?
Is it sunny or overcast most of the winter?

Thanks for your input!

The winter's not horrible here, unless we have one of those "anomaly" years -- which seem to be more and more frequent lately. This past winter was mild, with almost no snow. The year before, we had tons of snow -- every time you turned around, there was another snowstorm. The year before that, we had two major blizzards but otherwise, not much snow. So, as far as snowfall goes, it's all over the map.

Same thing with temperatures. It starts getting cold in Nov. and starts warming up in April, but can still be chilly then. I'd say the "average" winter's day is in the 30's. But we do have some bitter-cold snaps, where the temps can be in the 20's or teens (or even single digits at night). We have the occasional rainy days, but otherwise the sun's out -- it's not usually gray or overcast.

So in summary, I'd say Philly winters are not brutal like some other areas of the country, but by the end of winter, we are usually ready for spring!

[wiley9]

Good information - thanks! I don't mind the cold as much as the overcast skies.

[acenturi]

Originally Posted by UDResident

......Back in the 2000s, there was a winter where we had a week or two straight of subzero temps. I remember walking one morning when it was -20 outside......

-20 ?? You can't be serious. The lowest official post-1950 Philadelphia temperatures in January were -7 in 1982 and 1984. There were no below zero December, January or February temperatures in this (21st) century.

[john_starks]

as cold as canada from jan-march

its like the rest of the mid-atlntic

new england = canada

cold as sh!.t from nov-april

[Ohiogirl81]

Typical winter day: 40 degrees and drizzling.

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Typical winter day: 40 degrees and drizzling.

Typical winter day: 40 degrees and sunny

[UDResident]

Originally Posted by acenturi

-20 ?? You can't be serious. The lowest official post-1950 Philadelphia temperatures in January were -7 in 1982 and 1984. There were no below zero December, January or February temperatures in this (21st) century.

Never heard of a thing called windchill huh

It also wasn't in Philadelphia. It gets colder outside of the city.

Yeah, I am serious. I walked to the trolley in subzero temperatures according to the windchill. It was when we had a Siberian Arctic Blast. The coldest day of it had a windchill around -20.

[kidphilly]

^^^ Generally there are a few bad days in the winter. I have to be honest on the relative scale there are probably more bad (HHH) days in the summer than blustery cold in the winter