Scranton, Pennsylvania Weather
Fireflies rise from the lawn. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Scranton weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Mostly Clear——86°49°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——89°61°+3°
- SaturdayJun 6Showers61%0.06″85°65°-4°
- SundayJun 7Light Showers61%—76°58°-9°
- MondayJun 8Overcast——78°54°+2°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast——84°52°+6°
- WednesdayJun 10Mostly Clear13%—88°56°+4°
Ozone at AQI 93 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. AQI up 51 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. Levels should ease through evening.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 93 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.
- Present
- AQI 93
- UV peak
- 2.1 at earlier today
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 93
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 4.5 µg/m³ (AQI 25) with a 0.98 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.98
- Wind
- light
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- stagnant smoke
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 3:35 AM
- Moonset
- 12:58 PM
- In sign
- ♒︎ Aquarius
Fireflies rise from the lawn
Scranton at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 12°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 24 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — Scranton
SPC has placed Scranton in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms day after tomorrow.
- TODAYNONENo severe risk
- TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
- DAY 3MRGLMarginal Risk
Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Scranton's warmest temperatures at around 74°F mean, while January delivers the coldest at approximately 28°F. Precipitation follows its own calendar, with September's peak of 4.2 inches contrasting sharply with February's low of 2.1 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 2.6″ | 6 |
| February | 30° | 2.1″ | 6 |
| March | 38° | 2.8″ | 7 |
| April | 50° | 3.3″ | 7 |
| May | 61° | 3.3″ | 8 |
| June | 69° | 3.8″ | 8 |
| July | 74° | 3.6″ | 7 |
| August | 72° | 3.9″ | 7 |
| September | 65° | 4.2″ | 6 |
| October | 53° | 3.7″ | 6 |
| November | 43° | 2.9″ | 6 |
| December | 33° | 2.8″ | 6 |
Regional context
Scranton falls within the warm-summer humid continental climate region, sharing temperature ranges, seasonal rhythms, and growing conditions with other cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: Philadelphia, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Allentown, PA, Harrisburg, PA, Lancaster, PA.
Naturalist notes
Late April often brings the return of wood warblers to Scranton's wooded areas, their songs marking the transition from spring migration to nesting season.
Sugar maples typically begin their autumn color change in early October, turning from green to brilliant orange and red as daylight hours shorten.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Scranton?
- Scranton's last spring frost typically occurs around mid-April, while the first fall frost usually arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Scranton?
- September stands as the wettest month, delivering about 4.2 inches of rain on average, contributing to the city's annual total of roughly 39 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Scranton?
- July typically records the warmest temperatures, with averages around 74°F.
- What is the coldest month in Scranton?
- January typically brings the coldest conditions, averaging about 28°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Scranton?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-April, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Scranton get?
- Scranton experiences approximately 80 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Scranton?
- Scranton's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperatures; consult the USDA's online lookup tool using the city ZIP code for the current zone designation.
Climate
Scranton, Pennsylvania experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate. January temperatures hover near 28°F while July averages 74°F, creating a 46°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 39 inches, distributed across roughly 80 rainy days throughout the year.
Weather patterns here respond to the city's latitude of 41.4°N, nearby water bodies, and local elevation. These factors determine growing seasons, frost timing, and daily weather conditions.