You’ve seen the postcards of the Poconos looking like a perfect, static winter wonderland. But if you’re actually standing outside in it right now, you know it’s a bit more "real" than that. Honestly, the pocono mountains weather today is exactly what you’d expect from deep January in Pennsylvania. Cold. Crisp. A little bit bitey.
The temperature at the Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport is currently hovering at 23°F. That sounds manageable until you factor in that northwest wind. It’s only blowing at 8 mph, but it’s enough to drag the "feels like" temperature down to a sharp 14°F.
Bundle up. Seriously.
Why Today’s Snow Isn’t Just "Flurries"
People often look at a "35% chance of light snow" and think they can skip the boots. Don't do that. We’ve been seeing light snow and fog/mist throughout the afternoon, and it’s keeping the visibility tight—around 1.00 mile in most spots. It’s that classic mountain gloom that makes the lodge fireplace look so much better.
Earlier today, we hit a high of 27°F, but that’s the peak. It’s all downhill from here.
What to Expect Tonight
- The Drop: We’re headed for a low of 13°F.
- The Wind: Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
- The Gusts: Expect up to 20 mph, which will make that 13°F feel like single digits.
- The Chance: About a 35% chance of light snow continues into the evening.
Driving conditions are currently rated as poor by local monitors. If you’re navigating the Sullivan Trail or heading up toward Jack Frost, give yourself twice the usual space. The combination of humidity at 88% and these temperatures means black ice is a very real, very annoying neighbor on the backroads.
The Ski Report Reality Check
If you're here for the powder, you're in luck, but you need to be smart about your layers. Resorts like Camelback and Blue Mountain are in full swing. Blue Mountain has been leaning hard into their snowmaking tech, and they’ve got those TechnoAlpin TT10 fan guns running to supplement what’s falling from the sky.
Over at Jack Frost and Big Boulder, the reports show a base depth of about 20 inches. That’s solid. But remember, the mountain air at 1,900 feet is always a few degrees colder and much windier than the valley floor.
Basically, if it’s 23°F in town, it’s going to feel like a refrigerator at the summit.
The Travel Outlook for Visitors
A lot of folks coming up from Philly or New York underestimate the "mountain effect." You might leave 40-degree weather and arrive in a snow squall. Today, the UV index is a flat 0—don't expect the sun to help you out or melt anything off your windshield.
Tomorrow isn't looking much warmer either. We’re looking at a high of 29°F and mostly cloudy skies. The real deep freeze hits Tuesday with a high of only 18°F. So, if you’re planning on doing anything outdoors, today is actually the "warm" day of the bunch.
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Next Steps for Your Day:
If you're heading out now, check the 511PA app for real-time camera feeds on I-80 and I-380. The mist is thick enough that those cameras are the only way to see if there’s a pile-up ahead of you. Keep your headlights on—not just for you to see, but so the guy in the SUV behind you can see your taillights through the fog.
Grab a heavy coat, make sure your scraper is actually in your car (not your garage), and maybe snag a hot chocolate at the base. You’ll need it.