STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – A warm, calm start to October will give way to unsettled skies as rain and thunderstorms move into central Pennsylvania by Tuesday afternoon. Commuters along I-99 and local school districts should prepare for slower travel and reduced visibility during the evening rush as a cold front pushes through.
According to the National Weather Service in State College, Monday will stay bright and mild with highs in the lower 80s before clouds increase late in the day. A developing system over the Ohio Valley will bring a 60 to 100 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday into early Wednesday. Rainfall amounts could top half an inch, with isolated heavier pockets possible. Motorists are urged to check PennDOT updates for delays and ponding along low-lying routes.
By midweek, drier and cooler air will settle in, signaling a more typical fall pattern. Wednesday and Thursday look mostly sunny, with highs in the low to mid-80s early, dipping into the upper 60s by the end of the week. The crisp, dry stretch will arrive just in time for early Halloween prep, pumpkin patch visits, and park leaf viewing across Centre County.
Residents should secure outdoor decorations ahead of Tuesday’s storms, charge devices in case of brief outages, and allow extra time for morning commutes through Wednesday.
Five-Day Forecast for State College, PA:
Sun: 80/49 – Sunny, light wind; patchy fog develops late.
Mon: 81/54 – Mostly sunny and warm; calm conditions.
Tue: 78/54 – Showers and a few storms; travel delays possible.
Wed: 87/38 – Mostly sunny; cooler, crisp evening.
Thu: 82/42 – Sunny and calm; ideal for outdoor plans.
