STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania – The morning air feels heavy and damp across the valleys of central Pennsylvania this early Thursday, with clouds hanging low and a few light showers brushing the region. By Friday morning, skies clear and temperatures tumble toward the mid-30s, bringing the season’s first true taste of late-fall chill — and patchy frost likely across much of the region.
According to the National Weather Service in State College, spotty rain today will fade by afternoon as a cool, dry air mass pushes in from the Great Lakes. Behind it, calm winds and clearing skies will set the stage for frost formation early Friday, especially in sheltered valleys and along rural stretches of U.S. 322 and I-99. Drivers should watch for fog and damp pavement during the early commute, while gardeners are encouraged to cover tender plants before temperatures dip near freezing.
Friday brings sunshine and crisp air, with highs hovering around 53°F. Saturday continues the trend — mostly sunny skies, light breezes, and a brisk start near 34°F. By Sunday, highs rebound into the mid-50s, perfect for fall clean-up or early Halloween decorating before the next round of clouds returns early next week.
Across the broader Northeast, the same system is helping to end the growing season for parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, with widespread frost and a few freeze warnings extending through Friday morning. While State College isn’t quite ready for its first flakes, the air now carries that unmistakable pre-winter edge — crisp, still, and steadily cooling as October winds toward its close.
Five-Day Forecast for State College, PA:
Thu: 52/37 – Cloudy; spotty showers early, breezy west wind.
Fri: 53/34 – Sunny, cool; patchy frost early.
Sat: 54/34 – Mostly sunny; chilly start, pleasant afternoon.
Sun: 56/32 – Partly sunny; cool and calm.
Mon: 52/38 – Increasing clouds; light showers late.
