Philadelphia, PA – Pennsylvania residents may be trading winter coats for lighter layers as unseasonably warm temperatures are forecast to build across the state heading into the final days of 2025 and the start of 2026.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 8–14 day temperature outlook for Saturday, December 27 through Friday, January 2 shows a strong signal for above-normal temperatures statewide, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and much of central and eastern Pennsylvania.
In Philadelphia, forecasters say daytime highs during the post-Christmas to New Year’s stretch could run well above late-December averages, potentially approaching daily record levels on some days. While exact numbers will be refined closer to the period, the overall pattern suggests one of the warmest year-end transitions in recent memory.
Meteorologists attribute the warmth to a broad, persistent ridge of high pressure dominating much of the eastern United States, limiting cold air intrusions from Canada and keeping true winter conditions largely locked farther north.
The warm signal may not end with New Year’s Day. NOAA’s Week 3–4 outlook for January 3–16, 2026 continues to favor above-average temperatures across much of Pennsylvania, particularly in the southeastern part of the state, including the Philadelphia metro area. Confidence decreases farther out, but current data supports a milder-than-normal start to January.
The extended warmth could impact energy demand, winter recreation, and snow potential, especially in lower elevations. Officials remind residents that winter patterns can still shift quickly, but for now, the trend points toward a mild opening to 2026.
