Climate and monthly weather forecastAltoona, PA
Climate and monthly weather forecast
The climate of Altoona
Positioned in Pennsylvania, USA, Altoona features a Humid continental climate, no dry season, warm summer- according to the Köppen climate classification, known as Dfb. This region exhibits distinct seasonal alterations highlighting a blend of moderate to high temperatures and rainfall.A thorough examination of the climate parameters indicates that January shows the lowest temperature, hitting a low of 19.4°F (-7°C), while July stands out with the highest at 81.5°F (27.5°C). Rainfall appears moderately throughout the year, with the highest rate occurring in May with an average measurement of 2.8" (71mm). Conversely, a slightly lower rate can be observed during November with an amount of 1.57" (40mm). Relative humidity remains comparatively consistent—fluctuating slightly from 77% in April, July to 85% in February.
From weather uniqueness perspective, snowfall can be noted only from December to April, with January displaying the maximum snowfall, 5.28" (134mm). Moreover, the maximum number of daylight hours reaches their peak in June with 15 hours and decline to the minimum in December with 9.3 hours. This might point to a key role of daylight in the variation of temperature throughout the year.
The best time to visit Altoona
Considering the climate characteristics, the optimal time to visit Altoona, Pennsylvania would be during the summer months, from June to August. With high temperatures averaging from 72.3°F (22.4°C) to 81.5°F (27.5°C), accompanied by the longest daylight hours extended up to 14.7 to 15 hours, these months serve perfectly for outdoor activities and sightseeing. Additionally, during this period, sunshine hours are at their prime, ranging from 9.4 to 10 hours per day, allowing tourists to make the most of their daytime visit.The worst time to visit Altoona
While Altoona can be pleasingly visited any time of the year, the least preferable period might be from December through February. During these winter months, the temperature plummets to a low of 19.4°F (-7°C) to 35.2°F (1.8°C), coupled with reduced daylight hours (9.3 hours to 10.7 hours) and a substantial increase in snowfall that could reach up to 5.28" (134mm) in January. The weather conditions during this period could pose obstacles to outdoor activities and may cause discomfort due to extreme cold.Spring weather in Altoona
The spring season in Altoona, ranging from March to May, tends to show a noticeable rise in temperature from 44.4°F (6.9°C) to 68.7°F (20.4°C). It also sees a significant increase in rainfall, crossing 2" (51mm), with its climax in May. The daylight hours in this season experience a substantial boost, extending from 12 hours in March to 14.5 hours in May. Despite occasional showers and increasing humidity levels, ranging from 77% to 79%, the spring period showcases a delightful weather for visitors.Summer weather in Altoona
Consistent with the Humid Continental climate, the summer in Altoona, lasting from June to August, displays an elevation in temperature, ranging from 72.3°F (22.4°C) to 81.5°F (27.5°C). While rainfall persists, the intensity slightly diminishes, averaging around 2.14" (54mm). Relative humidity remains consistent at 78%, and sunshine hours peak, reaching up to 10 hours per day. Coupled with the longest daylight duration (14.7 hours to 15 hours), the summer season brings an ample time for various outdoor activities.Autumn weather in Altoona
Autumn in Altoona, which extends from September through November, witnesses a decline in temperature from 72.3°F (22.4°C) to 46.6°F (8.1°C). Simultaneously, daylight hours get reduced from 12.5 hours to 9.9 hours. Rainfall in this season ranges from 1.81" (46mm) to 2.44" (62mm), accompanied by a slight rise in relative humidity from 79% to 81%. Despite cooler temperatures, the autumn months also make for an attractive visit, allowing the observation of vivid fall foliage in the area.Winter weather in Altoona
Winter extends from December to February in Altoona. It is characterized by a drastic drop in temperature, reaching as low as 19.4°F (-7°C) in January. Rainfall averages between 1.81 to 2.17" (55mm), while snowfall peaks at 5.28" (134mm) in January and reduces to 3.74" (95mm) in March. The daylight hours are at their shortest, averaging between 9.3 to 10.7 hours. With an increase in humidity to 84%, coupled with frequent snowfall, winter in Altoona ensures a true cold weather experience.Weather in January
January sees Altoona, Pennsylvania in the throes of winter, with a possibility of snowfall stretching across almost half the month. Frequent overcast skies keep the sunshine hours scarce throughout the month. It is the beginning of the icy season; hence, the daylight hours remain relatively short. Weather in January »Weather in February
Transitioning from the deep chill of January, February sees a subtle rise in temperature. Snowfall continues in February, although in less frequency than the preceding month. February gets marginally more sunlight, though cloud cover persistently obscures clear sky views. Weather in February »Weather in March
The defiant frost of winter begins to recede in March, with longer daylight hours and an increased UV index indicating the arrival of spring. Altoona shows relatively fewer snowfall days in March and increased rain occurrence. Cloud cover reduces gradually, allowing the sun to grace the city for more extended hours. Weather in March »Weather in April
Offering a conspicuous respite from the colder months, April introduces spring sunshine with noticeably longer daylight hours and more sunshine hours. With snowfall almost driven away, rainfall dominates the weather scene in Altoona. Weather in April »Weather in May
May heralds the onset of summer with significantly warmer temperatures and extended sunshine hours compared to the preceding month. Rainfall persists, characterizing the weather in Altoona. Wind speeds recede, lessening the breeze intensity and making the overall feel slightly warmer. Weather in May »Weather in June
June presents a climate transformation towards distinctive summer patterns, with the longest sunlight duration of the year. While rainfall subsides slightly in Altoona, the city enjoys an increased number of sunshine days. Moreover, the already decreased wind speed continues to decline, contributing to the warm ambiance. Weather in June »Weather in July
In July, Altoona Pennsylvania feels the full impact of summer with the highest temperatures for the year. It continues to receive a substantial amount of sunshine with marginally fewer daylight hours than June. Though experiencing the least amount of cloud cover, July does not shy away from frequent rain showers. Weather in July »Weather in August
As the final full month of summer, August exhibits similarly high temperatures as July. Altoona witnesses variable weather patterns, with rainfall and sunshine hours almost paralleling each other. The wind speed remains steady, preventing the atmosphere from getting too sultry. Weather in August »Weather in September
September ushers in a slight chill as Altoona enters the fall season. It receives considerable rainfall, alluding to cloudier skies and somewhat less direct sunshine. The wind speed starts picking up again, adding a subtle crispness to the weather. Weather in September »Weather in October
In October, Altoona, Pennsylvania fully embraces fall with noticeably cooler temperatures. Despite the dip in temperature, the amount of rainfall heightens. Although the city receives ample sunshine, daylight hours markedly decrease. Weather in October »Weather in November
November in Altoona witnesses the revival of the winter chill with further decreased temperatures. A mixed weather pattern emerges with a decreased rainfall but reinstatement of snowfall after the warm months. With the wind speed continuing its upward trend, colder wind chills become a common occurrence. Weather in November »Weather in December
Rounding off the year, December in Altoona, Pennsylvania reveals prominent winter characteristics. The frequency of snowfall increases while the rain ebbs considerably. With diminished daylight, the temperatures exhibit a significant dip. Weather in December »Updated: Jun 27, 2024
Published by: Weather U.S. | About Us
Data Sources | Weather Forecasting & Climate
Published by: Weather U.S. | About Us
Data Sources | Weather Forecasting & Climate
Frequently asked questions
The month of January sees the average lowest temperatures, reaching 31.1°F (-0.5°C) at the peak and 19.4°F (-7°C) at the low.
In Altoona, during the entire year, the rain falls for 165 days and collects up to 25.31" (643mm) of precipitation.
January through May, October through December are months with snowfall.
The month with the most snowfall is January, when snow falls for 15.9 days and typically aggregates up to 5.28" (134mm) of snow.
In Altoona, during the entire year, snow falls for 58.4 days and aggregates up to 20.59" (523mm) of snow.
With an average of 3.5h of sunshine, January has the least sunshine of the year in Altoona.
February is the most humid month, with an average relative humidity of 85%.
On Sunday, March 10. 2024, at 2:00 am, Daylight Saving Time starts, and the time zone changes from EST to EDT. Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 3. 2024, at 2:00 am, and the time zone reverts from EDT to EST.
The months with the lowest humidity in Altoona are April and July, with an average relative humidity of 77%.
The month with the most rainfall is May, when the rain falls for 17.9 days and typically aggregates up to 2.8" (71mm) of precipitation.
May through August, with an average maximum UV index of 5, are months with the highest UV index.
June through September are months without snowfall.
The month with the longest days in Altoona is June, with an average of 15h and 0min of daylight.
The month of July, characterized by an average high of 81.5°F (27.5°C) and a low of 59.4°F (15.2°C), is recognized as the warmest.
With an average of 10h of sunshine, July has the most sunshine of the year.
November is the month with the least rainfall. Rain falls for 10.5 days and accumulates 1.57" (40mm) of precipitation.
With an average of 9h and 18min of daylight, December has the shortest days of the year in Altoona.
December is the month with the lowest UV index, with an average maximum UV index of 1.
Average temperature
Altoona, PA
The warmest month (with the highest average high temperature) is July (81.5°F).
The month with the lowest average high temperature is January (31.1°F).
The month with the highest average low temperature is July (59.4°F).
The coldest month (with the lowest average low temperature) is January (19.4°F).
Average pressure
Altoona, PA
- Average pressure in January:
30.1"Hg - Average pressure in February:
30.07"Hg - Average pressure in March:
30.08"Hg - Average pressure in April:
29.98"Hg - Average pressure in May:
30.01"Hg - Average pressure in June:
29.95"Hg
- Average pressure in July:
29.98"Hg - Average pressure in August:
30"Hg - Average pressure in September:
30.06"Hg - Average pressure in October:
30.04"Hg - Average pressure in November:
30.14"Hg - Average pressure in December:
30.1"Hg
The month with the highest atmospheric pressure is November (30.14"Hg).
The month with the lowest atmospheric pressure is June (29.95"Hg).
Average wind speed
Altoona, PA
- Average wind speed in January:
9.2mph - Average wind speed in February:
8.8mph - Average wind speed in March:
8.3mph - Average wind speed in April:
8.3mph - Average wind speed in May:
6.6mph - Average wind speed in June:
6.2mph
- Average wind speed in July:
5.2mph - Average wind speed in August:
4.9mph - Average wind speed in September:
5.4mph - Average wind speed in October:
7mph - Average wind speed in November:
7.6mph - Average wind speed in December:
8.5mph
The windiest month (with the highest average wind speed) is January (9.2mph).
The calmest month (with the lowest average wind speed) is August (4.9mph).
Average humidity
Altoona, PA
The month with the highest relative humidity is February (85%).
The months with the lowest relative humidity are April and July (77%).
Average rainfall
Altoona, PA
- Average rainfall in January:
1.81" - Average rainfall in February:
1.97" - Average rainfall in March:
2.05" - Average rainfall in April:
2.64" - Average rainfall in May:
2.8" - Average rainfall in June:
2.13"
- Average rainfall in July:
2.28" - Average rainfall in August:
1.65" - Average rainfall in September:
1.81" - Average rainfall in October:
2.44" - Average rainfall in November:
1.57" - Average rainfall in December:
2.17"
The wettest month (with the highest rainfall) is May (2.8").
The driest month (with the least rainfall) is November (1.57").
Average rainfall days
Altoona, PA
- Average rainfall days in January:
10.4 days - Average rainfall days in February:
9.8 days - Average rainfall days in March:
12.8 days - Average rainfall days in April:
16.9 days - Average rainfall days in May:
17.9 days - Average rainfall days in June:
15.6 days
- Average rainfall days in July:
16.7 days - Average rainfall days in August:
15.3 days - Average rainfall days in September:
13.5 days - Average rainfall days in October:
13.3 days - Average rainfall days in November:
10.5 days - Average rainfall days in December:
12.3 days
The month with the highest number of rainy days is May (17.9 days).
The month with the least rainy days is February (9.8 days).
Average snowfall
Altoona, PA
- Average snowfall in January:
5.28" - Average snowfall in February:
4.76" - Average snowfall in March:
3.74" - Average snowfall in April:
0.75" - Average snowfall in May:
0.12" - Average snowfall in June:
0"
The month with the highest snowfall is January (5.28").
The months with the least snowfall are June, July, August and September (0").
Average snowfall days
Altoona, PA
- Average snowfall days in January:
15.9 days - Average snowfall days in February:
12.8 days - Average snowfall days in March:
9.3 days - Average snowfall days in April:
2.5 days - Average snowfall days in May:
0.5 days - Average snowfall days in June:
0 days
- Average snowfall days in July:
0 days - Average snowfall days in August:
0 days - Average snowfall days in September:
0 days - Average snowfall days in October:
0.8 days - Average snowfall days in November:
5.5 days - Average snowfall days in December:
11.1 days
The month with the highest number of snowfall days is January (15.9 days).
The months with the least snowfall days are June, July, August and September (0 days).
Average daylight / Average sunshine
Altoona, PA
- Average daylight in January:
9h and 42min - Average daylight in February:
10h and 42min - Average daylight in March:
12h and 0min - Average daylight in April:
13h and 18min - Average daylight in May:
14h and 30min - Average daylight in June:
15h and 0min
- Average daylight in July:
14h and 42min - Average daylight in August:
13h and 42min - Average daylight in September:
12h and 24min - Average daylight in October:
11h and 6min - Average daylight in November:
9h and 54min - Average daylight in December:
9h and 18min
The month with the longest days is June (Average daylight: 15h and 0min).
The month with the shortest days is December (Average daylight: 9h and 18min).
- Average sunshine in January:
3h and 30min - Average sunshine in February:
3h and 48min - Average sunshine in March:
5h and 42min - Average sunshine in April:
7h and 36min - Average sunshine in May:
8h and 18min - Average sunshine in June:
9h and 24min
- Average sunshine in July:
10h and 0min - Average sunshine in August:
9h and 54min - Average sunshine in September:
8h and 24min - Average sunshine in October:
5h and 12min - Average sunshine in November:
5h and 6min - Average sunshine in December:
3h and 42min
The month with the most sunshine is July (Average sunshine: 10h and 0min).
The month with the least sunshine is January (Average sunshine: 3h and 30min).
Average sunshine days
Altoona, PA
- Average sunshine days in January:
9.8 days - Average sunshine days in February:
8.6 days - Average sunshine days in March:
10.8 days - Average sunshine days in April:
10.3 days - Average sunshine days in May:
10.6 days - Average sunshine days in June:
12.8 days
- Average sunshine days in July:
12.3 days - Average sunshine days in August:
13.5 days - Average sunshine days in September:
14.3 days - Average sunshine days in October:
14.4 days - Average sunshine days in November:
15.3 days - Average sunshine days in December:
11.7 days
The month with the most sunshine days is November (15.3 days).
The month with the least sunshine days is February (8.6 days).
Average UV index
Altoona, PA
The months with the highest UV index are May, June, July and August (UV index 5).
The month with the lowest UV index is December (UV index 1).
Average cloud cover
Altoona, PA
The month with the most cloud cover is January (Cloud cover 65).
The months with the least cloud cover are July and August (Cloud cover 37).
Average visibility
Altoona, PA
The month with the highest visibility is April (6mi).
The months with the lowest visibility are January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December (5mi).
