Winter in Northeastern Pennsylvania isn't just about the numbers on a screen. If you're looking at the weather Wilkes Barre PA 10 day forecast right now, you’re probably seeing a lot of gray icons and freezing digits. But honestly? The raw data never tells the whole story of how a January week actually feels when you're walking down Public Square or scraping ice off a windshield in the Heights.
It’s cold. Like, really cold.
Currently, we are sitting at 18°F, but with that biting west wind at 9 mph, it feels more like 8°F. That’s the kind of weather that sneaks into your bones if you aren’t layered up properly. Most people think a forecast is a fixed promise, but in the Wyoming Valley, the mountains have a funny way of messing with the clouds and trapping the chill longer than expected.
Breaking Down the Weather Wilkes Barre PA 10 Day Forecast
The next week and a half is basically a rollercoaster of "standard" PA winter. We aren't seeing a massive blizzard—at least not yet—but there is a persistent threat of snow that could make the morning commute on I-81 a bit of a nightmare.
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The Immediate Outlook
Tonight, January 15, we are staying cloudy with a low of 15°F. There is a 20% chance of some light snow, but nothing that’s going to require the heavy-duty shovel. Tomorrow, Friday, January 16, is more of the same: high of 28°F, low of 17°F, and a very persistent cloud cover.
The Weekend Shift
Saturday is where things get interesting. We actually see the temperature climb to 39°F. Sounds tropical, right? Wrong. That "warmth" comes with a 40% chance of snow during the day. Since it’s hovering right around freezing, we might see that annoying slushy mix that’s too wet to be pretty and too cold to be rain. By Sunday, the high drops back down to 26°F, and we get some "partly sunny" breaks. Take those breaks when you can get them; the UV index is only at 1, so don't expect to work on your tan.
Highs, Lows, and Those Random Snow Showers
If you’re planning your week, keep an eye on Tuesday, January 20. That looks like the brutal day. We are talking a high of only 13°F and a low of 4°F. When you factor in the 14 mph winds coming from the west, the wind chill is going to be well into the negatives. This is "stay inside and order Wegmans delivery" weather.
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- Thursday (Jan 15): High 30°F / Low 15°F (Cloudy)
- Friday (Jan 16): High 28°F / Low 17°F (Cloudy)
- Saturday (Jan 17): High 39°F / Low 25°F (40% Snow chance)
- Sunday (Jan 18): High 26°F / Low 16°F (Partly sunny)
- Monday (Jan 19): High 27°F / Low 5°F (Mostly cloudy)
- Tuesday (Jan 20): High 13°F / Low 4°F (Coldest day)
- Wednesday (Jan 21): High 28°F / Low 13°F (Snow showers)
- Thursday (Jan 22): High 32°F / Low 20°F (Mostly cloudy)
- Friday (Jan 23): High 35°F / Low 22°F (Light snow)
- Saturday (Jan 24): High 31°F / Low 19°F (Snow)
Basically, the back half of this 10-day stretch is dominated by light snow and freezing temperatures. Wednesday the 21st and Saturday the 24th both carry significant chances for accumulation.
The Reality of Humidity and Wind in the Valley
Wilkes-Barre is unique because of the geography. The humidity right now is around 48%, which isn't terrible, but it's expected to spike to 69% by next Saturday. High humidity in the winter makes the cold feel "wet" and more piercing. It’s that damp cold that makes you shiver even if you’re wearing a heavy wool coat.
Most locals know that the wind is the real enemy. We are seeing speeds between 8 mph and 15 mph throughout the forecast period. Southwest and West winds are the most common here, and they tend to whistle through the valley, making the "RealFeel" significantly lower than the actual air temperature.
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Experts from the National Weather Service and local meteorologists often point out that Wilkes-Barre’s January averages usually hover around a high of 34°F. We are largely staying below that average for most of this 10-day window, especially with that dip into the low teens on Tuesday.
Staying Prepared in NEPA
It’s easy to get complacent when the snow is "only a 20% chance." But in this part of Pennsylvania, 20% can turn into two inches of ice on your windshield in an hour. Honestly, the best way to handle the weather Wilkes Barre PA 10 day forecast is to assume you'll need an extra 15 minutes every morning for car prep.
- Check your tire pressure. Cold snaps like the one coming Tuesday will cause your TPMS light to pop on.
- Layering is a science. Thermal base layers are non-negotiable when the lows are hitting 4°F.
- Watch the Saturday snow. The 40% chance of snow on Jan 17th and Jan 24th are the high-risk windows for travel.
Northeastern PA winters are long, but they are manageable if you aren't surprised by the sudden drops. That 13-degree Tuesday is the one that’s going to catch people off guard. Get your errands done on Sunday when there's at least a bit of sun peeking through.
The most important thing to remember? This is just January doing what January does in Wilkes-Barre. It’s gray, it’s breezy, and it’s predictably unpredictable. Keep the scraper handy and the heater on.
Practical Next Steps
Check your vehicle's antifreeze levels and ensure your emergency kit has a heavy blanket before Monday night's temperature drop. If you have outdoor pets, Tuesday's 4°F low means they absolutely need to be brought into a climate-controlled space.