March was 4.1 deg F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 71.5 deg. F, recorded on March 18. The low for the month was 12.5 deg F, recorded on March 4. There were 2 days where the maximum temperature was at or below 32 F, and there were 16 days where the minimum temperature was at or below 32 F. There were 741 heating degree days and 3 cooling degree days.
March was a near-normal month for precipitation with 3.25 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 0.13 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 1.25 inches recorded on March 31. There were 13 days of rain >.01 in, 9 >.10 in and 1 > 1 in. There was also 11.1 inches of snow. There was pea-sized hail observed during a severe thunderstorm on March 31.
February was 1.7 deg F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 61.8 deg. F, recorded on February 21. The low for the month was 5.7 deg F, recorded on February 15. There were 6 days when the maximum was at or below 32 F and 25 days when the minimum temperature was at or below 32 F. There were 958 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days.
February was an above-normal month for precipitation with 4.34 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 1.88 inches above normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 1.63 inches recorded on February 3. There were 13 days of rain >.01 in, 8 >.10 in and 2 > 1 in.
There were 3.4 inches of snow for the month, with a maximum daily total of 1.7 inches on February 25. The 3-day total recorded on February 1-3 was 14.9 inches.
The most significant event this month was the snow squall that passed through our area on February 20. There were whiteout conditions for a brief time.
January was 3.8 deg F below normal for temperature. The high for the month was 53.8 deg. F, recorded on January 1. The low for the month was -6.1 deg F, recorded on January 27. There were 18 days when the maximum was at or below 32 F, 30 days when the minimum temperature was at or below 32 F, and 2 days when the minimum temperature was at or below 0 F. There were 1261 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days.
January was a below-normal month for precipitation with 1.29 inches of liquid precipitation recorded, which was 1.82 inches below normal. The maximum liquid precipitation in a single day was 0.37 inches recorded on January 1. There were 9 days of rain >.01 in, 4 >.10 in and 0 > 1 in.
There were 13.8 inches of snow for the month, with a maximum daily total of 5.1 inches on January 16.
Overall, the year’s temperatures were above normal. The annual mean of 52.0 F was 1.8 F above normal. The annual precipitation of 40.17 inches was 0.53 inches below normal.
2021 Weather Data
January
January was a bit warmer than normal with a monthly mean of 30.7 F, which was 2.6 F above normal, with a high of 48 F and a low for the month of 14 F. Precipitation was 2.06 inches below normal with 1.05 inches of liquid precipitation. There were 3 inches of snow this month.
February
February was the coldest month of 2021 with a mean of 34.7 F, which was 1.2 F below normal. The high was 58 F and the low was 3 F, which was also the low for the year. Precipitation was 0.66 inches below normal at 1.61 inches. There were 13 inches of snowfall this month.
March
March temperatures were also mild at 5.3 F above normal with a high of 70 F and a low of 14 F. Precipitation was 0.86 inches below normal with 2.69 inches of liquid precipitation. The high wind speed for the month and year was 47 mph.
April
Temperatures were 1.2 F above normal in April. The high was 83 F and the low was 22 F. Rainfall was 1.12 inches below normal at 2.27 inches. The last day of temperatures below freezing was April 22.
May
Temperatures were cooler at 1.3 F below normal with a high of 88 F and a low of 32 F. Precipitation was 3.67 inches, 0.44 inches above normal.
June
Damaged Trees Blocking PA 550 near Patton/Halfmoon Township Line June 21, 2021 – Photo by George Riley
Temperatures for the month were 1.0 F above normal with a mean of 80.6 F. The high was 92 F and the low was 41 F. Precipitation was 2.56 inches above normal with 6.42 inches of rainfall.
July
The temperatures were 0.4 F below normal at a mean of 82.4. The high for the month was 92 F and the low was 50 F. Rainfall was 0.38 inches below normal with 3.08 inches of precipitation.
August
August was the warmest month this year. The month’s temperatures were 1.8 F above normal at a mean of 83.4. The high was 93 F and the low was 49 F. Precipitation was 0.88 inches above normal at 5.02 inches.
September
Temperatures were above normal this month with a mean of 75.0 F. The high was 86 F and the low was 42 F. There were 6.82 inches of rainfall, which was 2.84 inches above normal. This was the rainiest month of the year.
October
October was very mild with temperatures at 6.4 F above normal. The high was 79 F and the low was 36 F. Rainfall was near normal at 3.40 inches, which was 0.06 inches above normal.
November
Temperatures were cooler in November and were 2.6 F below normal. The high was 69 F and the low was 20 F. Precipitation was 1.45 inches, 1.79 inches below normal. The first freeze was on November 2. There was also less than 0.5 inches of snowfall.
December
December was very mild with a mean temperature of 46.5 F, 6.9 F above normal. The high was 66 F and the low was 16 F. Precipitation was 0.44 inches below normal at 2.69 inches. There was also 3 inches of snowfall.
November was 2.6 deg F below normal for temperature. The high for the month was 69.0 deg. F, recorded on November 9. The low for the month was 20.2 deg F, recorded on November 24. There were 20 days at or below 32 F and 0 days when the maximum temperature was at or below 32 F. There were 774 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree day.
November was a below-normal month for precipitation with 1.45 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 1.79 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 0.96 inches recorded on November 12. There were 9 days of rain >.01 in, 2 >.10 in and 0 > 1 in. There was also 1.2 inches of snow this month.
Someone has set up a petition on change.org to increase the speed limit on PA 550 to 55 m.p.h. The petition states:
“The speed limit on PA route 550 south is too low and should be increased to 55mph. A large portion of motorists already consistently drive over 50mph on 550 daily and by increasing the speed limit the road would be made safer as the speed limit would more closely resemble the speed motorists actually travel on the road. This would also likely eliminate most tailgating and strings of traffic behind someone going ‘exactly 45 THE WHOLE WAY DOWN 550.’”
As of this posting, 22 people have signed the petition.
PA 550 is a rural highway that runs from Zion, PA to near Tyrone, PA. The petition does not state which section of the highway it is addressing, or mention that the current posted speed limits are not consistent along its length (35 m.p.h. in Stormstown, 25 m.p.h. in Bellefonte, and above 45 in Huntingdon County). Nor does it mention the no passing zones for much of its length, the limited sight distances, sharp curves, the presence of slow moving farm equipment, or wildlife crossing the highway.
The argument stated in the petition is a logical fallacy. Just because “everyone” is exceeding the speed limit is not a valid argument for increasing it. As stated above there are too many potential hazards to warrant an increase to 55 mph.
July was 0.4 deg F below normal for temperature. The high for the month was 91.8 deg. F recorded on July 7. The low for the month was 49.6 deg F, recorded on July 31. There was a single day at or above 90 deg F! There were 32 heating degree days and 224 cooling degree days.
July was a below normal month for precipitation with 3.08 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 0.38 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 0.69 inches recorded on July 7. There were 12 days of rain >.01 in, 7 >.10 in and 0 >1 in.
June was 1.0 deg F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 92 deg. F recorded on June 29. The low for the month was 41 deg F, recorded on June 23. There were 63 heating degree days and 188 cooling degree days.
June was an above normal month for precipitation with 6.42 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 2.56 inches above normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 1.65 inches recorded on June 13. There were 13 days of rain >.01 in, 10 >.10 in and 2 >1 in.
High wind speed of 44 mph on June 21. The high winds caused tree damage in the area.
Damaged Trees Blocking PA 550 near Patton/Halfmoon Township Line June 21, 2021 – Photo by George Riley
March was 5.3 deg F above normal for temperature. The high for the month was 69.9 deg. F, recorded on March 25. The low for the month was 13.7 deg F, recorded on March 7. There was 1 day where the maximum temperature was at or below 32 F, and there were 20 days where the minimum temperature was at or below 32 F. There were 697 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree day.
March was a below normal month for precipitation with 2.96 inches of rainfall recorded, which was 0.86 inches below normal. The maximum rainfall in a single day was 0.87 inches recorded on March 18. There were 9 days of rain >.01 in, 6 >.10 in and 0 > 1 in.
Stormstown Dispatch 