Scranton winters aren't exactly known for being subtle. If you’ve spent any time in Lackawanna County, you know the drill: one day you’re scraping a thin glaze of ice off your windshield at 6:00 AM, and the next, you’re dealing with a slushy mess that makes the Central City expressway feel like a skating rink. Honestly, looking at the 15 day weather forecast Scranton PA, things are looking pretty classic for mid-January. We’re deep in the "grey" season where the sun is more of a myth than a daily occurrence.
Right now, the current temperature is sitting at 24°F as of early Saturday morning, January 17, 2026. It feels like 19°F because of a light southeast wind. If you're heading out for coffee, just know it’s cloudy and that humidity is high—86% to be exact. It’s that damp, biting cold that gets into your bones even if the wind isn't howling.
What’s Actually Happening in the Next Week?
The short-term outlook is basically a carousel of snow showers and deep freezes. Today, Saturday, we're looking at a high of 33°F with a 46% chance of snow during the day. It’s not a blizzard, but it’s enough to keep the salt trucks busy. By tonight, it drops back down to 25°F.
Sunday stays chilly with a high of 29°F and light snow predicted. But the real story is Monday and Tuesday. We’re heading into a bit of an Arctic dip. While Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, hits a high of 27°F, the overnight low is going to plummet to 12°F.
Tuesday is the day you’ll want to stay inside if you can help it. The high is only expected to reach 17°F, and the low will bottom out at a shivering 7°F.
Scranton’s Typical January Vibes
Most people think they understand NEPA weather, but the geography of the Wyoming Valley does weird things to the clouds. We get a lot of that "lake-effect" moisture that drifts down from the Great Lakes. According to historical data from the National Weather Service in Binghamton, January is officially the coldest month for our area.
Average highs usually hover around 33°F, which matches up almost perfectly with our current 15-day outlook. We usually see about 13 inches of snow throughout the month, but it rarely comes all at once. It’s more of a persistent, daily dusting that makes every sidewalk in the Hill Section a gamble.
Humidity stays high this time of year—often over 80%. This is why 30 degrees in Scranton feels way worse than 30 degrees in a dry climate like Denver. It’s that wet cold.
Breaking Down the Mid-Range Forecast
Looking further out into the second half of the 15-day window, we see a slight recovery before another potential dip.
💡 You might also like: Choosing an Air Conditioning Unit for Single Room Use Without Wasting Your Cash
- Wednesday (Jan 21): Mostly cloudy, high of 27°F, low of 8°F.
- Thursday (Jan 22): A bit of a break with some sun and a high of 32°F.
- Friday (Jan 23): Partly sunny, high 25°F, low 15°F.
- The Weekend (Jan 24-25): Highs staying in the low 20s.
It’s a very consistent pattern. We aren't seeing any massive "January Thaw" just yet. Usually, a thaw would bring us into the 40s for a few days, but the current models suggest the cold air is locked in over the Northeast for a while.
Survival Tips for the 15 Day Weather Forecast Scranton PA
If you’re new to the area or just need a refresher, don’t ignore the wind chill. When the forecast says 7°F on Tuesday night, with even a 10 mph wind, you're looking at "feels like" temps well below zero.
- Check your tires now. Those hills on North Main or over by Nay Aug Park are no joke when they get that thin layer of refrozen slush.
- Layering is the only way. You'll want a moisture-wicking base layer because the humidity is so high.
- Watch the pipes. With lows hitting single digits next week, make sure your heat is consistent.
The 15 day weather forecast Scranton PA is basically telling us to settle in. It’s "Electric City" winter at its most predictable: grey, snowy, and cold enough to keep you reaching for another flannel.
Keep an eye on the Tuesday night temps specifically. That 7°F low is the real outlier in this stretch and could cause some issues with car batteries if they're on their last legs. Stay warm out there.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your vehicle’s antifreeze levels and battery health today before the single-digit temperatures arrive on Tuesday. If you have outdoor pets, ensure they have insulated shelter or bring them inside as the overnight lows drop below 15°F starting Monday night.