Weather around Thanksgiving in Central PA (Pittsburgh, Erie: car, county, average)

[zitsky]

I'm from PA but from SW PA (Johnstown) and weather can be a little different than the central part of PA. I'm planning to go up to visit my mother and debating when to go. I have an international trip planned already end of September, so I thought of pushing a trip to PA to October or November.

I'm trying to decide whether to drive up, my car does have AWD, or fly up and take chances on weather cancellations. I'd be going to Duncannon which is pretty close to Harrisburg. It would probably be a 1-2 day trip. I did think about visiting a brother in Pittsburgh but I haven't decided about that yet.

[Gerania]

The weather isn't going to be that much different. It might be cold or rain, but that's about it. Every so many years there's a dusting of snow, but it doesn't last long.

[swilliamsny]

Harrisburg isn't going to be very different from Johnstown. Even coming as far north as we are (Columbia County), there's still not too much of a change. We spend most Thanksgivings here, and I can't remember the last time we had snow. We did have some pretty scary winds one year.

[bradjl2009]

It's really not that different though if anything it's usually a little warmer and less snowy in Central than Western PA.

[George22x24]

The posters above are right on target about Central PA weather in Oct and Nov but Pittsburgh can be something else. Pittsburgh is in the Cleveland/Buffalo weather tri-area with snows from the lakes, so that is something to consider.

[zitsky]

Originally Posted by George22x24

The posters above are right on target about Central PA weather in Oct and Nov but Pittsburgh can be something else. Pittsburgh is in the Cleveland/Buffalo weather tri-area with snows from the lakes, so that is something to consider.

Thanks. Hadn't thought about that. Maybe I'll limit my visit to Duncannon/Harrisburg.

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by George22x24

The posters above are right on target about Central PA weather in Oct and Nov but Pittsburgh can be something else. Pittsburgh is in the Cleveland/Buffalo weather tri-area with snows from the lakes, so that is something to consider.

Pittsburgh only averages 2 inches of snow in November and average highs here in late Nov are in the upper 40's. You have to go north of I-80 to really have a chance of decent snowfall in November. A pretty cold Thanksgiving does happen here every few years, but I can't ever remember snow stopping us from visiting family on the holiday.

[Ohiogirl81]

Any weather can happen around Thanksgiving, but generally the weather isn't bad, and the likelihood of weather-related flight cancellations is slim.

I've encountered snow and freezing rain in the mountains near Clearfield, and of course lake-effect snow in Erie, but Duncannon is neither in the mountains nor anywhere near Lake Erie.

You'll be fine, any way you travel.

Originally Posted by George22x24

The posters above are right on target about Central PA weather in Oct and Nov but Pittsburgh can be something else. Pittsburgh is in the Cleveland/Buffalo weather tri-area with snows from the lakes, so that is something to consider.

What? I don't think so.

[2nd trick op]

Weather in Penna in late November can be characterized in one word -- unpredictable. I drove I-80 in a heavy (1 foot-plus) snowstorm on one occasion, and in extremely dense fog on another. But I've also experienced Thanksgiving Day temperatures in the sixties.

Best advice I could give would be to allow extra time in the window if possible.

[Gerania]

We once drove into a major snowstorm just north of Philly on our way to Wilkes-Barre for Thanksgiving. The only reason we made it there that evening was the number of plows on 476 north of the Leigh Valley Tunnel.