Honestly, if you're planning to visit the Sweetest Place on Earth this week, you better pack the heavy-duty parka. Right now, Hershey is sitting at a chilly 28°F under a nighttime sky that’s dropping light snow showers. It feels exactly like a Pennsylvania January should—cold, crisp, and a little bit damp with 95% humidity hanging in the air.
People always assume Hershey is just about the chocolate, but the weather here has a mind of its own.
The Hershey PA Weather Forecast 10 Day Outlook
If you look at the Hershey PA weather forecast 10 day data, we are heading into a serious temperature roller coaster. Tomorrow, Monday, January 19, starts off at 32°F with some peek-a-boo sunshine, but don't let that fool you. By nightfall, it’s cratering to 10°F. That is a 22-degree drop that will catch you off guard if you're out late.
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Tuesday is arguably the toughest day of the stretch. We’re looking at a high of only 19°F. Even with the sun out, a 12 mph wind from the west is going to make the boardwalk at Hersheypark feel like the Arctic Circle.
Mid-Week Shifts and Weekend Snow
By Wednesday, January 21, things "warm up" to 34°F, which feels like a heatwave compared to Tuesday. It’ll stay mostly cloudy. Thursday is actually the peak of the week—39°F and sunny. If you have errands to run or want to walk around Chocolate World without shivering, Thursday is your window.
But then, the snow returns.
- Friday, Jan 23: High of 34°F, low of 21°F. Partly sunny but cooling down.
- Saturday, Jan 24: Snow is back in the forecast. We’re looking at a 25% chance of accumulation during the day with a high of 33°F.
- Sunday, Jan 25: This is the deep freeze. The high is only 13°F. The low? A bone-chilling 5°F.
Why the Hershey Microclimate Matters
There is this weird thing about Hershey weather that locals know but tourists usually miss. Because the town is nestled in the Susquehanna Valley, the humidity—currently at 77% for the daily average—makes the cold "stick" to you. It's a damp cold.
When the wind kicks up to 18 mph like it's supposed to on Monday, that "feels like" temperature is going to be significantly lower than what you see on your phone screen.
The UV index is staying at a flat 1 or 0 for almost the entire ten-day period. You won't need sunscreen, but you will need moisture. The air is going to be incredibly dry toward the end of next week as humidity drops to 32% on Sunday.
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Real Talk on Planning Your Visit
If you're coming for a weekend getaway, the Saturday/Sunday split next weekend is brutal. Saturday’s snow transition followed by Sunday’s 13°F high means roads could be messy and walking outside will be genuinely painful for more than ten minutes.
If you can swing a mid-week trip, Thursday is the MVP. It’s the only day that approaches the 40-degree mark, and the clear skies mean you’ll actually get some Vitamin D.
Actionable Next Steps for the Next 10 Days
- Layering is non-negotiable: Monday and Tuesday have massive temperature swings. Use a base layer of merino wool if you're heading to ZooAmerica.
- Watch the West Wind: Tuesday and Thursday will have gusts that make the actual temperature irrelevant. A windbreaker over a puffer jacket is the pro move here.
- Anticipate Sunday's Freeze: With a low of 5°F on January 25, make sure your car’s antifreeze is topped off and your battery is in good shape. Sub-ten-degree weather is where old batteries go to die.
- Check the Saturday Snow: While a 25% chance sounds low, Pennsylvania snow is notoriously unpredictable. Keep an eye on the northwest wind patterns as that day approaches.
Basically, stay warm and keep your eyes on the Sunday low. It's going to be a cold one.