STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – A damp and unsettled start to the Columbus Day holiday weekend is giving Pennsylvania a genuine taste of fall. Early Saturday clouds are thickening, and showers are expected to spread eastward by late day, potentially slowing travel on I-99 and U.S. 322 through Centre County. Local drivers heading to weekend events or pumpkin patches should pack rain gear and allow extra time for slick roads.
According to the National Weather Service in State College, rain chances peak late Saturday into Sunday as a weak cold front moves through the region. By Monday, the front will exit eastward, leaving behind cooler and breezy conditions for Columbus Day festivities. Daytime highs will dip into the lower 60s with a chance of lingering light showers early in the day.
The brief stretch of wet weather will help brighten fall foliage but may also dampen outdoor holiday plans. NWS forecasters suggest keeping alternate indoor options ready for Monday picnics or parades. Motorists planning post-holiday returns Monday evening should expect clearing skies and improving visibility.
Looking beyond the long weekend, cooler, more stable air dominates midweek with crisp mornings and sunny afternoons—ideal for leaf viewing and early Halloween decorating. Residents should monitor changing conditions and prepare for chillier nights ahead as a stronger cold snap could develop later next week.
Five-Day Forecast for State College, PA:
Sat: 66/52 – Increasing clouds; showers late.
Sun: 64/48 – Scattered showers; breezy east winds.
Mon: 61/48 – Slight chance morning showers; cooler, turning partly sunny.
Tue: 68/46 – Mostly sunny; mild and dry.
Wed: 64/39 – Mostly sunny; crisp fall air returns.
