PENNSYLVANIA — As the 2025–26 winter season continues, Pennsylvania has already seen significant snowfall and remains in a weather pattern that supports the possibility of further snow before the season ends in March.
Winter So Far: Snow and Cold Across the State
Pennsylvania experienced a major winter storm in late January, part of a larger North American system that brought heavy snow and frigid temperatures across the Northeast, according to the National Weather Service.
In several areas of the state, snowfall totals were notable: Philadelphia recorded its largest single-storm snowfall since January 2016, with reports of up to 20 inches in parts of the state, and Jennerstown saw nearly 25 inches during that event. Meanwhile, western Pennsylvania received a foot or more of snow in separate storms affecting the Pittsburgh region.
Satellite imagery and state observations from late January showed snow cover across essentially the entire state, with broad swaths reporting 6 inches or more on the ground at one point in late January—a much higher coverage than at the same time during the previous winter.
What Forecast Models and Seasonal Outlooks Show
Several weather forecasting outlets and seasonal outlooks issued before and during the winter provide context for future snowfall potential:
- Seasonal forecasts issued for the 2025–26 winter generally indicated a mixed signal for snowfall in Pennsylvania. Some models projected near or slightly below average overall snowfall for parts of the state, especially in central and eastern regions, while western and northern areas had a somewhat greater chance of above-average snow.
- Long-range projections from Weather Prediction Center and National Weather Service forecast products indicate that short-term snow events remain possible across the Northeast, including Pennsylvania, as systems track through the region. These forecasts show probabilities for snow accumulations—ranging from light snow (1 inch or less) to portions of the state chance for several inches from passing disturbances.
- Local weather services and long-term model blends (including analog-year analysis) suggest that a weak La Niña or ENSO-neutral pattern this winter can allow frequent intrusions of cold air from the north, offering continued opportunities for snowfall events, especially when storm systems align with sufficiently cold surface temperatures.
Short-Term and Mid-Season Outlook
While Milwaukee and other parts of the interior Northeast have seen repeated snow events, the most recent forecasts for the northeastern United States, including Pennsylvania, point toward two possible snow events in the coming days or weeks, though not all systems are expected to produce heavy snowfall. One forecast highlights a roughly 50% chance for at least an inch of snow in parts of the Appalachians and northern Pennsylvania from upcoming disturbances, with lighter accumulations possible elsewhere.
Meteorologists also tend to caution that snowfall becomes more difficult to predict with precision beyond 7–10 days because of inherent limits in seasonal models; nonetheless, snowfall remains plausible through February and into early March whenever colder air masses interact with approaching storm systems.
Summary: Continued Chances for Snow
Pennsylvania’s winter of 2025–26 has already included substantial snowfall from major storms and widespread snow cover. Seasonal forecasts and short-range model guidance both suggest that additional snow events remain possible before the official end of winter:
- Short-term weather models show potential for light to moderate snow events in the coming weeks.
- Long-range outlooks signal mixed probabilities but do not rule out additional snowfall, especially in northern and western parts of the state.
- State climatology and analog patterns lend support to continued winter activity while temperatures remain seasonably cold.
In practical terms, residents should continue to monitor local forecasts through February and early March, as temperature swings and approaching storm systems will dictate when and where snowflakes may fall next.
