Reading, Pennsylvania Weather
Fireflies rise from the lawn. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Reading weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Overcast——89°56°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——94°66°+5°
- SaturdayJun 6Light Drizzle34%—85°64°-9°
- SundayJun 7Overcast34%—86°66°+1°
- MondayJun 8Overcast——76°62°-10°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast——85°56°+9°
- WednesdayJun 10Partly Cloudy14%—89°61°+4°
PM2.5 at 20.5 µg/m³ (AQI 72) with a 0.99 fine-to-coarse ratio and 2 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI down 5 over the last 6 hours (steady decline since this morning).
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 20.5 µg/m³ (AQI 72) with a 0.99 fine-to-coarse ratio and 2 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.99
- Wind
- calm
- 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
- 3:33 AM
- Moonset
- 1:02 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies rise from the lawn
Reading at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 17°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 18 (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 — Reading
SPC has placed Reading in the General Thunderstorms category for severe thunderstorms day after tomorrow.
- TODAYNONENo severe risk
- TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
- DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.
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 Reading's warmest temperatures (~76°F mean) while January delivers the coldest (~31°F). September sees peak rainfall at 4.9 inches, with February recording the lowest at 2.6 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 3.0″ | 6 |
| February | 33° | 2.6″ | 6 |
| March | 42° | 3.5″ | 6 |
| April | 53° | 3.4″ | 7 |
| May | 63° | 3.5″ | 7 |
| June | 72° | 4.8″ | 8 |
| July | 76° | 4.8″ | 7 |
| August | 74° | 4.5″ | 7 |
| September | 67° | 4.9″ | 6 |
| October | 55° | 3.8″ | 7 |
| November | 45° | 3.0″ | 5 |
| December | 36° | 3.5″ | 7 |
Regional context
Reading belongs to the warm-summer humid continental climate region. Cities in this zone experience similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions.
Similar climates: Philadelphia, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Allentown, PA, Harrisburg, PA, Lancaster, PA.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the distinctive calls of wood thrushes returning to Reading's woodlands, their flute-like songs echoing through the canopy.
Sugar maples begin their spring leaf emergence in early May, their tiny red flowers appearing just before the leaves unfurl.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Reading?
- Reading's final spring frost usually occurs around mid-April, while the first fall frost typically arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Reading?
- September ranks as the wettest month with approximately 4.9 inches of rain on average; the city gets roughly 45 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Reading?
- July typically brings the warmest weather, averaging about 76°F.
- What is the coldest month in Reading?
- January usually brings the coldest temperatures, averaging about 31°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Reading?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be planted around the last spring frost (mid-April); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Reading get?
- Reading gets about 80 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Reading?
- Reading's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Reading, Pennsylvania experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. January temperatures typically hover near 31°F while July averages 76°F — creating a 45°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Reading gets about 45 inches of precipitation distributed across roughly 80 rainy days.
Several factors determine the local weather patterns: latitude (40.3°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These elements influence what grows here, when frost occurs, and the daily weather conditions.