Spring Creek Watershed Climate

Introduction

The Spring Creek Watershed, nestled within the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and ecological significance. Over the past 50 years, significant shifts in climate patterns have been observed, prompting a reconsideration of the traditional definition of climate as "the average weather over 30 years." As we face more frequent extreme weather events—such as droughts, floods, and temperature fluctuations—it's critical to understand both the local and regional climates and how these evolving patterns impact our environment.

Climate, like weather, can be studied at various scales. While weather represents the immediate atmospheric conditions—wind, rain, sleet, or sunshine—climate is a statistical and descriptive treatment of weather patterns over time. Understanding the interaction of the atmosphere, landscape, and water bodies helps us anticipate longer-term trends in climate, which is especially important for regions like the Spring Creek Watershed. The University Park Weather Station on Penn State’s campus has recorded over 150 years of data, allowing us to analyze these trends in detail.

The atmosphere, along with the lithosphere (solid earth), hydrosphere (water in all forms), and biosphere (living organisms), plays a crucial role in making Earth hospitable. It not only provides the gases necessary for life but also acts as an energy distributor, insulator, and water transporter. In our region, the interplay of these systems leads to the seasonal variations we experience, which, contrary to popular belief, are less about the Earth’s distance from the Sun and more about the tilt of Earth’s axis and the angle of sunlight received.

Understanding Our Climate

The Spring Creek Watershed is located within the Ridge and Valley Physiographic Province, an area known for its forested ridges and fertile valleys, which significantly influence local weather patterns. Prevailing westerly winds bring weather disturbances from the interior of North America, while the Gulf of Mexico serves as a primary moisture source. This combination of geography and atmospheric flow creates the watershed’s characteristic climate: moderately cold winters, warm summers, frequent precipitation, and daily temperature fluctuations.

Using the widely adopted Köppen climate classification system, the Spring Creek

Watershed falls within a humid continental climate. This system, originally based on vegetation distribution, links natural plant life to climate characteristics. While Pennsylvania falls into a "Dfa" climate region (humid continental, hot summer) at a macro level, a more localized analysis of the Spring Creek Watershed places it within a "Dfb" mesoclimate (humid continental, warm summer). This regional climate represents a blend of the dry Midwestern and humid Eastern Seaboard climates.

The data for the State College region from 1981 through 2010 offer a snapshot of these climate conditions¹:

• Annual mean high temperature: 59.1°F

• Annual mean low temperature: 40.2°F

• Average temperature: 49.6°F

• Average annual total rainfall: 39.9 inches

• Average annual total snowfall: 47.0 inches

• Year of max precipitation between 1981-2024: 2018 (63.75 in)

• Year of min precipitation between 1981-2024: 2001 (30.33 in)

• Year of max snowfall between 1981-2024: 1994 (109.3 in)

• Year of min snowfall between 1981-2024: 2020 (13.2)

Climate Characteristic	1981	2023
Average Annual High Temperature2	58.50°F (14.72°C)	62.06°F (16.70°C)
Average Annual Low Temperature2	38.91°F (3.84°C)	44.02°F (6.68°C)
Average Temperature2	46.79°F (8.22°C)	51.08°F (10.6°C)
Annual Precipitation2	34.12 in (866.648 mm)	40.02 in (1016.51 mm)
Annual Snowfall2	33.34 in (846.84 mm)	11.13 in (282.70 mm)
30-Year Average Temperature3	50.72°F
10-year Average Temperature3	51.24°F
Climate Type	Humid continental (Dfb - warm summer, cold winter)
Temperature Fluctuations	Frequent daily and seasonal variations
Winter Daylight Hours	Approximately 9.5 hours (December 21)
Summer Daylight Hours	Approximately 15 hours (June 21)
Primary Moisture Sources	Gulf of Mexico, with secondary input from Great Lakes and Atlantic Ocean
Influence of Terrain	Ridge and Valley Province blocks and directs weather, contributing to precipitation variation
Notable Weather Events	Orographic lifting leads to increased rainfall in summer and heavy snowfall in winter
Threats	Uncontrolled stormwater runoff; limited water resources for population growth (reliance on rain and groundwater)

1. National Weather Service NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data. State College, PA. https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=CTP

2. Calculated using PASC IDA Data. The Pennsylvania State Climatologist. https://climate.met.psu.edu/data/ida/index.php?t=3&x=shef&id=STCP1

3. State College Daily Weather Summary. The Pennsylvania State Climatologist. https://climate.met.psu.edu/data/daily/

Watershed Management and Climate Change

As climate change intensifies, so does the need for proactive watershed management. The Spring Creek Watershed faces increasing risks from both flooding and drought due to more extreme weather patterns. These changes threaten not only water availability but also the health of the ecosystem and the people who rely on it. Addressing these challenges requires a collective effort from municipalities, local governments, conservation organizations, and residents.

Key to managing these risks is improving stormwater management systems. The increasing frequency of heavy rainfall events means that traditional drainage systems may not be able to handle the volume of water. Innovative approaches like rain gardens, permeable pavements, and other green infrastructure can help manage runoff, reduce flooding, and promote groundwater recharge. In addition, preserving and restoring wetlands and forests is critical, as they act as natural sponges that absorb excess water and filter pollutants.

During periods of drought, water conservation efforts become vital. Local governments and residents should implement water-saving techniques, such as efficient irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and public education on reducing water use. Collaboration between stakeholders is crucial in developing land-use policies that prioritize sustainable development while protecting the region’s water resources.

Conclusion

The Spring Creek Watershed is a dynamic environment influenced by a range of climate factors, from geography to atmospheric systems. As our region experiences more frequent extreme weather—whether drought, floods, or changing temperature patterns—it's clear that protecting our water resources requires thoughtful management and collaboration among all stakeholders.

By understanding the historical climate data and anticipating future changes, we can make informed decisions to safeguard the watershed. Municipalities, conservation groups, and residents must work together to implement innovative stormwater management systems, preserve natural habitats, and promote water conservation. In doing so, we ensure that the Spring Creek Watershed remains a resilient and thriving ecosystem, capable of supporting both its natural inhabitants and the surrounding communities for generations to come.

Sources

Aguado, Edward & James E. Burt.  Understanding Weather and Climate. Third Edition, 2004. Pearson Education, Inc./Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA.

Baldwin, John L.  Climates of the United States.  1973. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., USA.

Cantrell, Mark.  The Everything Weather Book. 2002. Adams Media Corporation. Avon, MA, USA.

Centre Regional Planning Commission.  1976. The Planning Document. College Township, Centre County, PA, USA.

Cole, Milton W., Angela D, Lueking & David L. Goodstein.  Science of the Earth, Climate and Energy. 2018. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. Singapore. (USA office, Hackensack, NJ).

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The State Water Plan: Subbasin 9 – Central West Branch Susquehanna River. February 1980. Harrisburg, PA, USA.

Gelber, Ben.  The Pennsylvania Weather Book.  2003. Rutgers University Press.  New Brunswick, NJ, USA.

Maslin, Mark. Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction.  Third Edition, 2014. Oxford University Press. New York City, NY, USA.

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Pennsylvania State University.  Regional Weather Summary of Pennsylvania: Climatic Series 2, Lower Susquehanna Area, Progress Report 260.  July 1965.  PSU College of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station, University Park, PA, USA.

Pennsylvania State University.   Regional Weather Summary of Pennsylvania: Climatic Series 4, Upper Susquehanna Area, Progress Report 317.  June 1971.    PSU College of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station, University Park, PA, USA.

Ruffner, James A.   Climates of the States, Volume 2.  Third Edition.  1985. Gale Research Company.  Detroit, MI, USA.

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Acknowledgments

Doug Mason is a soil scientist who has worked in state and federal government as well as the private and nonprofit sectors.  He most recently pursued a PhD in Energy Management & Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, and took several courses in climatology at the Pennsylvania State University to prepare for this article.  He actively volunteers in local chapters of the Sierra Club, Audubon Society and other mostly environmental organizations.

I would like to thank Linda R. Musser, Head Librarian, and her entire staff in the Penn State University Library at 105 Deike Building,  for their assistance, advice and encouragement in gathering materials to research this document.  Special thanks also to Cindy Stahlman, Lu Skidgel and Kathi Immordino at the Centre Region Active Adult Center at the Nittany Mall for their undying patience and technical support, from computer use to copying research materials. I’m also indebted for editorial and graphic support from Elyse Johnson, Spring Creek Watershed Commission’s and Keystone

Water Resources Center's coordinator; as well as from Emma Cox, lab assistant at Villanova University.