Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania is entering December with unusually cold conditions, as new data from the National Weather Service shows the state’s coldest start to the month in two decades. The frigid trend is most pronounced in the Pittsburgh region, where early-December temperatures ranked among the lowest ever recorded.
According to the National Weather Service Pittsburgh office, the five-day mean temperature ending Friday, December 5, 2025, averaged 26.7 degrees, marking the coldest start to December since 2005 and the 11th coldest start in the full climate record for the region. Records date back well over a century.
The agency’s dataset shows that only ten other years have begun December with colder five-day averages, with the lowest—18.3 degrees—recorded in 1976. This year’s placement in the top tier of cold Decembers highlights how sharply temperatures have dropped across western Pennsylvania heading into the winter season.
While Pittsburgh provided the specific benchmark data, the broader cold pattern has been felt statewide as Pennsylvanians experienced widespread near-freezing mornings, brisk winds, and below-normal daytime highs throughout the first week of December. Commuters across central and eastern Pennsylvania also reported icy patches and slower travel during the early-week temperature dips.
Forecasters note that a warming trend is expected later in the week, but overnight lows may still fall below freezing for much of the state. Residents are advised to monitor local forecasts and prepare homes and vehicles for continued winter conditions.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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