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Weather & Climate in Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Penn State Erie (Behrend) experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (10°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 246 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 43.5 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 1,049 feet.
Temperature
27°F Jan (-3°C)
73°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 50.6°F |
| 6% below US avg | |
| January Average | 27°F (-3°C) |
| July Average | 73°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 246 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,049 ft (320 m) |
| Area | 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,001/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 42.1178°N, 79.9858°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Chautauqua County County |
| Nearest Airport | Erie International/Tom Ridge Field (ERI) 10 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 84.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 70.3 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 89.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
37 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 | 77 km | 5 km |
| Jun 10, 2019 | 1 km NW of Timberlake, Ohio | M4.0 | 131 km | 2 km |
| Jan 26, 2001 | 8 km NNW of Edgewood, Ohio | M3.9 | 70 km | 5 km |
| Feb 6, 2023 | 1 km NE of West Seneca, New York | M3.8 | 129 km | 6 km |
| Mar 12, 2007 | Ohio | M3.7 | 149 km | 5 km |
| Oct 16, 1993 | 8 km SSE of Madison, Ohio | M3.6 | 97 km | 5 km |
| Aug 28, 2023 | 7 km SE of Madison, Ohio | M3.6 | 92 km | 5 km |
| Jun 30, 2003 | 6 km NW of Perry, Ohio | M3.6 | 106 km | 5 km |
| Mar 15, 1992 | 15 km NW of North Perry, Ohio | M3.5 | 107 km | 5 km |
| Jun 20, 2006 | 9 km WNW of North Perry, Ohio | M3.5 | 107 km | 5 km |
| Jun 3, 2001 | 3 km N of Edgewood, Ohio | M3.4 | 69 km | 5 km |
| Jan 26, 1991 | 1 km NNE of Mayfield Heights, Ohio | M3.4 | 138 km | 5 km |
| Jun 30, 2004 | 2 km WNW of Madison, Ohio | M3.3 | 98 km | 5 km |
| Jul 1, 2013 | 5 km NNW of Fairport Harbor, Ohio | M3.2 | 114 km | 5 km |
| Jan 9, 2008 | 6 km WNW of Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio | M3.1 | 127 km | 5 km |
| Mar 11, 2006 | 8 km NNW of Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio | M3.1 | 122 km | 5 km |
| May 25, 1995 | 3 km NW of Amherst, New York | M3.0 | 136 km | 5 km |
| Apr 25, 2010 | 2 km WNW of Madison, Ohio | M3.0 | 98 km | 5 km |
| Jun 16, 2004 | 11 km NNW of Angola on the Lake, New York | M2.9 | 103 km | 6 km |
| Feb 23, 1995 | 3 km W of Ashtabula, Ohio | M2.9 | 75 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
147 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 44 fatalities, 368 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 31, 1985 | EF4 | 96 km | 29.0 mi | 4 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF4 | 57 km | 14.0 mi | 12 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF4 | 70 km | 29.0 mi | 7 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF4 | 84 km | 56.2 mi | 16 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF4 | 21 km | 28.0 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF3 | 47 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF3 | 64 km | 17.0 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF3 | 48 km | 23.0 mi | 2 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF3 | 63 km | 13.0 mi | 0 |
| May 2, 1983 | EF3 | 30 km | 28.0 mi | 2 |
| May 2, 1972 | EF3 | 75 km | 7.9 mi | 0 |
| Jun 2, 1971 | EF3 | 30 km | 29.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 20, 1969 | EF3 | 31 km | 84.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 14, 2019 | EF2 | 68 km | 18.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 2, 2018 | EF2 | 51 km | 4.1 mi | 0 |
| Nov 5, 2017 | EF2 | 86 km | 6.7 mi | 0 |
| Nov 14, 2011 | EF2 | 59 km | 4.1 mi | 0 |
| Nov 14, 2011 | EF2 | 38 km | 2.9 mi | 0 |
| Jul 24, 2010 | EF2 | 80 km | 7.6 mi | 0 |
| Jul 24, 2010 | EF2 | 38 km | 7.6 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 | — | 86 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 | 79 km |
| 2021 | UNNAMED | 586 | 75 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°F (-3°C) | 2.7 in | |
| February | 25°F (-4°C) | 2.5 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | 33°F (1°C) | 3.2 in | |
| April | 45°F (7°C) | 3.5 in | |
| May | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 in | |
| June | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 in | |
| July | 73°F (23°C) | 4.0 in | Warmest |
| August | 68°F (20°C) | 4.4 in | |
| September | 61°F (16°C) | 4.7 in | Wettest |
| October | 50°F (10°C) | 4.1 in | |
| November | 40°F (4°C) | 4.4 in | |
| December | 29°F (-2°C) | 3.9 in |
Penn State Erie (Behrend) has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 25°F in February to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 45.4 inches, with September being the wettest month (4.7") and February the driest (2.5").