Erie, Pennsylvania Weather
Fireflies rise from the lawn. Day 78 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Erie weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Clear——80°57°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——81°67°+1°
- SaturdayJun 6Drizzle66%0.03″76°64°-5°
- SundayJun 7Light Drizzle40%—70°60°-6°
- MondayJun 8Overcast——82°55°+12°
- TuesdayJun 9Light Drizzle15%—81°64°-1°
- WednesdayJun 10Light Drizzle21%—79°64°-2°
AQI 73 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI up 14 over the last 6 hours (gradual rise). PM2.5 at 8.8 µg/m³ (AQI 49) with a 0.93 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
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 36 now. With UV 0.0 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 9 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 36
- UV peak
- 0.0 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 9
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 8.8 µg/m³ (AQI 49) with a 0.93 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.93
- 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).
The higher the clouds, the finer the weather.
- Moonrise
- 4:26 AM
- Moonset
- 2:20 PM
- In sign
- ♒︎ Aquarius
Fireflies rise from the lawn
Erie at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 5°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 29 (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 5, 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 — Erie
SPC has placed Erie in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms day after tomorrow.
- TODAYNONENo severe risk
- TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
- DAY 3SLGTSlight Risk
Scattered severe storms possible. A few tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts possible.
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 | — | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | — | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Erie's warmest temperatures at approximately 73°F mean, while January delivers the coldest at around 28°F. October sees peak rainfall with 4.4 inches, contrasting with February's lightest precipitation at 2.5 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 3.4″ | 10 |
| February | 29° | 2.5″ | 8 |
| March | 36° | 3.1″ | 8 |
| April | 47° | 3.5″ | 9 |
| May | 59° | 3.5″ | 8 |
| June | 68° | 3.7″ | 7 |
| July | 73° | 3.3″ | 7 |
| August | 72° | 3.4″ | 6 |
| September | 65° | 4.3″ | 7 |
| October | 54° | 4.4″ | 10 |
| November | 44° | 3.8″ | 9 |
| December | 34° | 4.2″ | 11 |
Regional context
Erie belongs to the warm-summer humid continental climate region, sharing temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with other cities in this climate classification.
Similar climates: Philadelphia, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Allentown, PA, Harrisburg, PA, Lancaster, PA.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the return of ruby-throated hummingbirds to Erie's gardens as spring migration reaches its peak.
Wild columbine typically blooms in Erie's woodlands during mid-May, coinciding with the end of the frost season.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Erie?
- Erie's last spring frost usually occurs around mid-May, while the first fall frost returns around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Erie?
- October records the highest monthly rainfall at approximately 4.4 inches on average, contributing to Erie's annual total of roughly 43 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Erie?
- July typically delivers the warmest temperatures, averaging about 73°F.
- What is the coldest month in Erie?
- January brings the coldest temperatures, averaging about 28°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Erie?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-May, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Erie get?
- Erie experiences approximately 99 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Erie?
- Erie's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; consult the USDA's online lookup tool with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Erie, Pennsylvania experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. January temperatures typically hover near 28°F while July averages 73°F, creating a 45°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation in Erie totals about 43 inches, distributed across roughly 99 rainy days throughout the year.
Geography determines Erie's weather patterns through its latitude of 42.1°N, proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors influence plant growth, frost timing, and daily weather conditions.