by Sam Smart

Created on: October 01, 2008   Last Updated: December 05, 2008

Climate at a Glance

The city of Philadelphia has a temperate climate that is marked by chilly winters and very warm summers. Moist, steamy air masses from the Gulf of Mexico contribute to those hot and humid summer days in the city. Cold, dry air masses from Canada arrive occasionally in the winter. Precipitation is abundant in Philadelphia. The city is located near the Atlantic Ocean, which supports Philadelphia with plenty of rainfall all year long. If you wish to visit the City of Brotherly Love, the best time of year to do so is early autumn. During this part of the season, the air is often nice and crisp, and there is a good deal of sunny days.

Temperature

From the courtesy of the Philadelphia International Airport, the annual temperature ranges from about 32 (F) degrees in January to near 78 (F) degrees in July. During the wintertime, the city occasionally receives a chilly welcome from Canada's arctic blasts. These cold snaps sweep through Philadelphia, sometimes dropping the temperatures into the single digits. The record low temperature for Philadelphia is -7 (F) degrees, occurring in January of 1984 and 1982. Summers are often warm and sticky. Thanks to the Gulf of Mexico that spreads the humidity into Philadelphia, the city is no stranger to temperature readings of 90 (F) degrees or above. Add those temperatures to dew point readings of 65 (F) degrees or more, and things will really begin to get uncomfortable. In addition to the typical muggy weather, Philadelphia's record high is 103 (F) degrees, which was set in July of 1966 and 1936.

Precipitation

Both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico play important roles in Philadelphia's annual precipitation. The city typically sees just over 42 inches of precipitation each year. The precipitation amounts do not vary considerably month by month, but spring and summer are typically the most wettest seasons. Thunderstorms frequently pop up onto the Philadelphia metropolitan area in both the spring and summer, and severe thunderstorms containing hail and gusty winds are not uncommon.

Yearly snowfall amounts (20.5 inches) are quite light. But the city does experience blinding snowstorms in the winter. Low pressure systems that track along the United States' East Coast are the so-called nor'easters. Once they enter the cold air, those storms often dump substantial snowfall amounts; sometimes a foot or more of the white stuff blanket Philadelphia.

Wrapping It Up

Just like most of the northern U.S. cities, Philadelphia enjoys a variance of seasons year-round. Winters are cold, springtime is fragrant, summers is hot, and autumn yields to colorful leaves from trees. However, Philadelphia is known for vast weather changes. For example, in the wintertime, the weather can be partly sunny with temperatures hovering around 70 (F) degrees during the day; within the next 24 hours, the city could see temperatures in the 30s (F). Be sure to dress accordingly, whether you are living in Philadelphia or just visiting the city at anytime of the year.

Source

National Weather Service Climate

<http://www.weather.gov/climate/index.php?wfo=phi

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