State College, PA – Pennsylvania’s golden fall streak is about to end as a strong late-week system brings soaking rain followed by a sharp temperature drop that could trigger the season’s first flurries in higher terrain. Travelers planning early Veterans Day weekend trips along I-80 and U.S. 322 should prepare for wet roads by Friday and a brisk chill settling in by Saturday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in State College, mostly sunny skies will linger through Thursday, keeping highs in the upper 50s to low 60s. Winds stay light, offering comfortable conditions for outdoor work or early holiday decorating. The change begins Friday, when clouds thicken and rain chances climb after midday. The agency places rain probabilities near 80% Friday night, with cooler northwest air sweeping in as lows fall toward the upper 30s.
Saturday looks partly sunny but noticeably cooler, hovering near the mid-50s. However, moisture lingering in the atmosphere could mix with cold air by Sunday, producing scattered rain and wet snow showers, especially across the ridges north and west of State College.
To be fair, it’s not a major winter storm—yet—but forecasters say this may be the first hint of November’s seasonal shift. Early signs point to another cold push next week as the region moves closer to Thanksgiving.
Residents should watch travel conditions from late Thursday into Friday night, as gusty winds and rain could make leaf-covered roads slick. For now, Pennsylvania enters its first true taste of late-fall weather—cooler, damp, and a reminder that winter is not far behind.
