State College in Spring

In spring (March, April and May), State College sees average daytime highs around 58°F and overnight lows near 40°F, with 11.5 in of precipitation over about 36 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.

Over the season highs climb from about 42°F in early March to 73°F by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% of the time across spring, and the air most often feels dry.

Spring is State College's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see State College's year-round climate.

Avg daytime high
58°F
3rd-warmest season
Avg overnight low
40°F
Precipitation
11.5 in
36 wet days
Avg wind
7 mph
Travel score
3.8
3rd-best season
Months
Mar · Apr · May

Temperature in State College in Spring

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Over the season highs climb from about 42°F in early March to 73°F by late May.

A typical spring day in State College reaches about 58°F and drops to 40°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is May, the coolest March.

20°40°60°80°MarAprMay

How spring really feels in State College

Once humidity and wind are folded in, spring brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 38 that feel at or below 32°F.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
38
wind chill below the day's low

The story in spring is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

State College weather by month

How the three spring months (March, April and May) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan34° / 20°3.09.96.29.40.0
Feb37° / 22°2.78.6510.40.0
Mar46° / 29°3.710.73.911.71.2
Apr59° / 40°3.812.10.913.14.2
May69° / 49°3.912.8014.25.9
Jun77° / 59°3.611.4014.96.4
Jul82° / 63°3.110.8014.66.3
Aug80° / 62°2.99.9013.66.5
Sep73° / 54°4.19.4012.36.8
Oct61° / 43°3.490.310.95.1
Nov49° / 34°3.28.81.49.71.9
Dec38° / 26°3.39.949.10.0

Cloud cover in Spring

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% of the time across spring.

0%25%50%75%100%MarAprMay

Chance of precipitation in Spring

Any precipitationSnow

State College gets around 11.5 in of rain and snow over 36 wet days across spring. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

0%10%20%30%40%50%MarAprMay

Humidity in Spring

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of spring feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

0%25%50%75%100%MarAprMay

Wind in Spring

Winds average 7 mph across spring.

0246810MarAprMay

Sunrise & sunset in Spring

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 hours in early March to 14 h 42 min by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AMMarAprMay

Solar energy in Spring

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across spring, about 4.8 kWh/m².

0246MarAprMay
Planning a trip in spring

Is spring a good time to visit State College?

Our two travel scores rate spring for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.

3.8
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
1.3
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

spring is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in State College.

What to pack for State College in Spring

From spring's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In spring, State College sees daytime highs around 58°F and nights near 40°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 36 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gearsun protection

UV index in State College in Spring

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV across spring averages around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in State College peaks around June 23 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 23UV 9Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7High
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in State College in Spring

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where spring falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in State College is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1316 µg/m³Nov 117 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb11Good
Mar12Good
Apr12Good
May14Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is State College?

State College sits at 40.8°N, 77.9°W, 1,165 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Altoona, 34 mi away.

Topography around State College

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of State College.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around State College has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 364 ft around an average of 1,142 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,713 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,598 ft.

The land around State College is covered by trees (44%), grassland (26%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 2 miles, trees (72%) within 10 miles, and trees (82%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
364 ft
10 miles
1,713 ft
50 miles
2,598 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaces
Spring weather nearby: Altoona 34 mi · Carlisle 54 mi · Williamsport 55 mi · Chambersburg 60 mi · Harrisburg 63 mi · Johnstown 65 mi · Hagerstown 80 mi · Lebanon 82 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for State College (40.7934°, -77.86°, elevation 1,165 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.