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Weather & Climate in Erie, PA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Erie experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 248 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 49.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 46.1 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38. 81% of days have good air quality. The city sits at an elevation of 712 feet.
Temperature
34°F Jan (1°C)
72°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 51.5°F |
| 5% below US avg | |
| January Average | 34°F (1°C) |
| July Average | 72°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 248 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 712 ft (217 m) |
| Area | 7.4 sq mi (19.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 4,922/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 42.1166°N, 80.0735°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Erie County County |
| Nearest Airport | Erie International/Tom Ridge Field (ERI) 6 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 38.0 |
| Rating | Good |
| Good Days % | 80.6% |
| Unhealthy Days | 0 |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 84.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 53.4 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 84.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
36 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.5.
| Sep 25, 1998 | 2 km SW of Adamsville, Pennsylvania | M4.5 | 74 km | 5 km |
| Jun 10, 2019 | 1 km NW of Timberlake, Ohio | M4.0 | 124 km | 2 km |
| Jan 26, 2001 | 8 km NNW of Edgewood, Ohio | M3.9 | 63 km | 5 km |
| Feb 6, 2023 | 1 km NE of West Seneca, New York | M3.8 | 134 km | 6 km |
| Mar 12, 2007 | Ohio | M3.7 | 143 km | 5 km |
| Oct 16, 1993 | 8 km SSE of Madison, Ohio | M3.6 | 91 km | 5 km |
| Aug 28, 2023 | 7 km SE of Madison, Ohio | M3.6 | 86 km | 5 km |
| Jun 30, 2003 | 6 km NW of Perry, Ohio | M3.6 | 100 km | 5 km |
| Mar 15, 1992 | 15 km NW of North Perry, Ohio | M3.5 | 99 km | 5 km |
| Jun 20, 2006 | 9 km WNW of North Perry, Ohio | M3.5 | 100 km | 5 km |
| Jun 3, 2001 | 3 km N of Edgewood, Ohio | M3.4 | 62 km | 5 km |
| Jan 26, 1991 | 1 km NNE of Mayfield Heights, Ohio | M3.4 | 131 km | 5 km |
| Jun 30, 2004 | 2 km WNW of Madison, Ohio | M3.3 | 91 km | 5 km |
| Jul 1, 2013 | 5 km NNW of Fairport Harbor, Ohio | M3.2 | 107 km | 5 km |
| Jan 9, 2008 | 6 km WNW of Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio | M3.1 | 121 km | 5 km |
| Mar 11, 2006 | 8 km NNW of Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio | M3.1 | 115 km | 5 km |
| May 25, 1995 | 3 km NW of Amherst, New York | M3.0 | 141 km | 5 km |
| Apr 25, 2010 | 2 km WNW of Madison, Ohio | M3.0 | 91 km | 5 km |
| Jun 16, 2004 | 11 km NNW of Angola on the Lake, New York | M2.9 | 108 km | 6 km |
| Feb 23, 1995 | 3 km W of Ashtabula, Ohio | M2.9 | 68 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
144 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 40 fatalities, 332 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 31, 1985 | EF4 | 80 km | 56.2 mi | 16 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF4 | 73 km | 29.0 mi | 7 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF4 | 51 km | 14.0 mi | 12 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF4 | 23 km | 28.0 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF3 | 69 km | 17.0 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF3 | 50 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF3 | 47 km | 23.0 mi | 2 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF3 | 70 km | 13.0 mi | 0 |
| May 2, 1983 | EF3 | 38 km | 28.0 mi | 2 |
| May 2, 1972 | EF3 | 73 km | 7.9 mi | 0 |
| Jun 2, 1971 | EF3 | 28 km | 29.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 20, 1969 | EF3 | 38 km | 84.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 14, 2019 | EF2 | 75 km | 18.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 2, 2018 | EF2 | 47 km | 4.1 mi | 0 |
| Nov 5, 2017 | EF2 | 82 km | 6.7 mi | 0 |
| Nov 14, 2011 | EF2 | 45 km | 2.9 mi | 0 |
| Nov 14, 2011 | EF2 | 65 km | 4.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 24, 2010 | EF2 | 45 km | 7.6 mi | 0 |
| Jul 24, 2010 | EF2 | 87 km | 7.6 mi | 0 |
| May 25, 2004 | EF2 | 66 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 2.7 m (9 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1823 | LAKE ERIE | Unknown | 2.7 m | — | 79 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
2 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (628 acres, 1990).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 1990 | UNNAMED | 628 | 83 km |
| 2021 | UNNAMED | 586 | 80 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34°F (1°C) | 2.6 in | |
| February | 26°F (-3°C) | 2.4 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | 34°F (1°C) | 3.1 in | |
| April | 45°F (7°C) | 3.4 in | |
| May | 57°F (14°C) | 3.5 in | |
| June | 66°F (19°C) | 4.3 in | |
| July | 72°F (22°C) | 3.7 in | Warmest |
| August | 69°F (21°C) | 4.2 in | |
| September | 62°F (17°C) | 4.7 in | Wettest |
| October | 51°F (11°C) | 3.9 in | |
| November | 41°F (5°C) | 4.1 in | |
| December | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.7 in |
Erie has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 26°F in February to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 43.6 inches, with September being the wettest month (4.7") and February the driest (2.4").