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Shaded-relief map of Washington, Pennsylvania: rivers, roads, the city limits and where the water drains.
PENNSYLVANIA · CAMBRIA COUNTY

Washington

865 people, 2,440 ft above sea level in Cambria County.

2,440 ftElevation, city center
865People, 2024 estimate
13 sq miLand area
Clear 39°
Clear now Dew point 33° · WNW 15 mph · high 41°
City of Washington River Interstate 2 miles
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The Washington plate. Relief from Copernicus GLO-30; rivers and lakes from USGS NHD; watersheds from the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset; roads and city limits from Census TIGER 2024.

MILE1
TODAY

Today in Washington

NWS forecast and National Blend of Models · updated 5:00 PM EST
RIGHT NOW Altoona - Blair County Airport (KAOO) · 5:53 PM
Clear
39° Clear Feels like 31° · high of 41° near 6 PM
WindWNW 15 mphgusts 24
Humidity79%rising to 100% by morning
Pressure29.97 in →steady
Visibility10 mihaze-free
CloudsClear
UV index—no forecast
Dew point 33° · Dryabout the same for three days
DryComfortableStickyMuggyOppressive
NEXT RAIN
Clear
Not this weeknone in the forecast for a week
LIKELY AMOUNT—nothing expected
LAST RAINNov. 120.16 in · 2 dry days
ALERTS & OUTLOOKS
No watches or warnings for Cambria County
NWS State College and the Storm Prediction Center · checked 6:17 PM
SUN & MOON
↑ 6:59 AM4:58 PM ↓
9 h 59 m of daylight, 2 minutes less than yesterday
Waxing crescent, 26% lit. Next full moon: Nov. 24.
AIR & POLLEN
18
GOODAir quality index · ozone
Tomorrow: 20, good. No pollen source yet.

The next three days, hour by hour

Sky: clear, cloudy, night Rain likely National Blend of Models
SATURDAY, NOV. 14
SUNDAY, NOV. 15
MONDAY, NOV. 16
TUESDAY, NOV. 17
6p
9p
Mid
3a
6a
9a
Noon
3p
6p
9p
Mid
3a
6a
9a
Noon
3p
6p
9p
Mid
3a
6a
9a
Noon
3p
mostly cloudy night
mostly cloudy night
partly cloudy night
mostly cloudy night
overcast
mostly cloudy day
mostly cloudy day
mostly cloudy day
partly cloudy night
mostly clear night
partly cloudy night
partly cloudy night
partly cloudy day
partly cloudy day
partly cloudy day
mostly sunny
mostly clear night
mostly clear night
mostly clear night
mostly clear night
mostly sunny
clear day
clear day
clear day
TEMPERATURE °F
41°
34°
44°
32°
47°
28°
CHANCE OF RAIN
50%
WIND, MPH
13
13
10
9
8
10
12
10
7
6
3
5
5
8
8
8
5
2
0
0
0
0
5
3
HOW IT FEELS · DEW POINT
Dry: dew points 28 to 34°

The next seven days, and how sure we are

Forecast, with the range 8 in 10 ensemble members agree on Normal, about 51° / 34°
SAT Nov. 14 Mostly cloudy Mostly cloudy
41° 33°
10% rain — WNW 13, gusts 28 A
SUN Nov. 15 Mostly cloudy Mostly cloudy
46° 31°
0% rain — NNW 10 A
MON Nov. 16 Partly cloudy Partly cloudy
50° 27°
0% rain — NNW 7 A
TUE Nov. 17 Sunny Sunny
55° 27°
0% rain — W 2 A
WED Nov. 18 Sunny Sunny
60° 30°
0% rain — WSW 5 B
THU Nov. 19 Mostly sunny Mostly sunny
63° 36°
0% rain — SW 5 B
FRI Nov. 20 Mostly sunny Mostly sunny
63° 37°
0% rain — WNW 5 B
How sure are we? AModels agree: highs within 4° BSome spread: within 8° CWide spread: check back
Range from the National Blend of Models percentiles · graded on Forecast Scores
AIR MAIL

Where today’s air came from

The air arriving over Washington about 5,000 feet above the ground was over Canada three days ago, and over Ontario a day ago, about 2,720 miles back along its path. It came down from about 15,000 feet up, warming and drying as it sank. Near the ground the air came from the Canadian Prairies; at 10,000 feet, from the Pacific north of Hawaii. It has stayed over land, which is why it feels dry. Traced back 72 hours through NOAA’s hourly RAP analyses and the GFS beyond them, nine paths at each of three heights.

THIS WEEK, SIX YEARS AGO Nov. 11, 2020

The hottest this week has been

74° on Nov. 11, 2020, the hottest reading for this week of the year since 1964. Next is 70° in 1964.

70°
74°
19642020
Source: NOAA RCC-ACIS, the Ebensburg Sewage Plant record since 1964.
MILE2
THE GROUND

What Washington stands on

Washington’s center stands about 2,440 ft above sea level. Within three miles the land runs from 1,680 ft to 2,780 ft, a difference of 1,100 ft: steep hill country. The highest named summit within 15 miles is Blue Knob, about 3,140 ft, 8 miles south-southeast.

The section below crosses 12 rock units mapped at the surface.

Vinco to Reservoir, cut in half

A section west to east, 24 miles through the town center
1,000 ft1,500 ft2,000 ft2,500 ft WASHINGTON2,440 ftVinco1,970 ftBlair1,360 ft ← W · VincoReservoir · E →

Heights every 0.1 mile from the Copernicus GLO-90 surface model; vertical exaggeration about 11×. The colored band under the surface is the rock the state geologic map shows at the surface, not a picture of what lies beneath.

Rock at the surface along the line

Glenshaw Formation

Shale. Age: Carboniferous, 299 to 324 million years old. About 7 mi of the line.

Casselman Formation

Shale, clastic. Age: Carboniferous, 299 to 324 million years old. About 5 mi of the line.

Burgoon Sandstone

Sandstone. Age: Carboniferous, 324 to 359 million years old. About 2 mi of the line.

Hamilton Group

Black-shale. Age: Early Devonian to Middle Devonian, 384 to 422 million years old. About 2 mi of the line.

Onondaga and Old Port Formations, undivided

Age: Early Devonian to Middle Devonian, 384 to 422 million years old. About 2 mi of the line.

Allegheny Formation

Sandstone. Age: Carboniferous, 299 to 324 million years old. About 1 mi of the line.

From the USGS State Geologic Map Compilation (Horton and others, 2017), the states’ geologic maps joined at a common scale. 6 smaller units along the line are not listed.

Heights from Copernicus GLO-90 (a surface model: it includes buildings and tree canopy); summits from USGS GNIS; rivers from USGS NHDPlus HR; rock from the USGS State Geologic Map Compilation.

MILE3
THE WATER

Where Washington’s rain goes

A raindrop that lands in Washington reaches the Gulf of America by way of the Little Conemaugh, the Conemaugh, the Kiskiminetas, the Allegheny, the Ohio and the Mississippi: about 2,080 river miles.

THE WAY DOWN, TO SCALE
Washington≈ 2,080 mi · the Gulf of America
FROM THE CENTER OF WASHINGTON ≈ 2,080 mi to the Gulf of America Little Conemaugh → Conemaugh → Kiskiminetas → Allegheny → Ohio → Mississippi

970 miles of the trip are on the Ohio.

Traced down the USGS NHDPlus V2.1 river network from the Census center point of Washington; river miles along the main stem, rounded.

MILE5
THE ALMANAC

Washington’s year

1991–2020 normals · records since 1964 · Ebensburg Sewage Plant, 8 mi northwest

Washington has a warm-summer humid continental climate. Summer afternoons average 79° in July; winter nights fall to about 16° in January. A normal year brings about 80 inches of snow; with the rain, that comes to about 49 inches of water.

33°16°36°17°45°24°58°34°68°44°75°52°79°56°77°55°71°48°60°38°48°28°37°21° JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC 123 TODAY WASHINGTON 48.7 in rain and snowmelt
Normal high to low, by month Record high to low, by day Rain by month Freezing
July, average79° / 56°high / low, the warmest month
January, average33° / 16°high / low, the coldest month
Rain and melted snow48.7 inwettest months: July and May
Snow a year79.7 insnowiest: January
Hottest on record99°FJuly 3, 1966
Coldest on record−28°FJanuary 21, 1994
Wettest day on record4.63 inJuly 20, 1977
Snowiest day on record24.0 inDecember 11, 1992
90° days a year2on average, 1991–2020
Nights at or below 32°156and 39 days that stay below freezing
Climate typeWarm-summer humid continentalKöppen Dfb

AROUND THE RING

1Freeze seasonfrom the first fall freeze, about Oct. 1, to the last in spring, about May 18 (median dates)
2Highs below freezingJan. 12 to Jan. 26; normal highs stay below 32°
3Lows below freezingNov. 1 to April 12; normal lows fall below 32°
NOVEMBER 14 IN THE RECORD

On November 14 Washington normally reaches 48° and falls to 29°. The record high is 69°, in 1994; the record low 5°, in 1986. The most rain on this date, 0.74 in, fell in 1993.

MONTH BY MONTH
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Normal high33°36°45°58°68°75°79°77°71°60°48°37°
Normal low16°17°24°34°44°52°56°55°48°38°28°21°
Rain and melt, in3.853.213.984.354.644.434.794.024.213.553.634.02
Snow, inches24.019.314.12.60.00.00.00.00.00.74.914.1
Record high67° (1997)75° (2018)83° (1998)89° (1976)90° (2006)92° (1969)99° (1966)94° (1999)91° (1964)85° (2019)78° (1982)71° (2001)
Record low−28° (1994)−22° (1979)−16° (2015)3° (1985)20° (1968)28° (1977)35° (1966)30° (1982)23° (1974)12° (1997)0° (1997)−20° (1989)

Normals 1991–2020 and records since 1964 at Ebensburg Sewage Plant, 8 miles northwest, 500 ft lower. NOAA, through RCC-ACIS.

MILE7
ON THE NETWORK

Around Washington on the Forecast Network

Neighboring plates

Altoona PA · 13 MI 13 miles northeast Johnstown PA · 17 MI 17 miles west Baltimore MD · 131 MI 131 miles southeast Washington DC · 134 MI 134 miles southeast Cleveland OH · 177 MI 177 miles northwest Philadelphia PA · 186 MI 186 miles east
FORECASTCITY
Map of Washington, Pennsylvania. Explore the plate
PENNSYLVANIA · CAMBRIA

Washington

865 people, 2,440 ft above sea level in Cambria County.

2,440 ftElevation
865People
13 sq miLand
Clear 39°
ClearDew point 33°
1

Today in Washington

NEXT 15 HOURS
Now mostly cloudy night 41° 5%
9p mostly cloudy night 38° 8%
12a mostly cloudy night 35° 1%
3a mostly cloudy night 34° 1%
6a mostly cloudy night 34° 2%
9a mostly cloudy day 39° 1%
Clear
NEXT RAINNone this week
→
Sat10%
Mostly cloudy Mostly cloudy
33
41
A
Sun0%
Mostly cloudy Mostly cloudy
31
46
A
Mon0%
Partly cloudy Partly cloudy
27
50
A
Tue0%
Sunny Sunny
27
55
A
Wed0%
Sunny Sunny
30
60
B
Thu0%
Mostly sunny Mostly sunny
36
63
B
Fri0%
Mostly sunny Mostly sunny
37
63
B
Letters show how sure the forecast is: A, models agree; B, some spread; C, check back. Sample data.
THIS WEEK, SIX YEARS AGO · NOV. 11, 2020

74°, the hottest this week of the year has been since 1964.

2

What Washington stands on

Washington’s center stands about 2,440 ft above sea level. Within three miles the land runs from 1,680 ft to 2,780 ft, a difference of 1,100 ft: steep hill country. The highest named summit within 15 miles is Blue Knob, about 3,140 ft, 8 miles south-southeast.

Washington, west to east Washington2,440 ft ← WE → 24 miles through the town center; vertical exaggeration about 20×. Colors: rock at the surface.
Elevation, center2,440 ft
Within 3 miles1,680 to 2,780 ft
Lie of the landSteep hill country (1,100 ft of relief)
High point nearbyBlue Knob, 3,140 ft, 8 mi south-southeast
5

Washington’s year

Washington has a warm-summer humid continental climate. Summer afternoons average 79° in July; winter nights fall to about 16° in January. A normal year brings about 80 inches of snow; with the rain, that comes to about 49 inches of water.

JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC 123 48.7 in
July, average79° / 56° · high / low, the warmest month
January, average33° / 16° · high / low, the coldest month
Rain and melted snow48.7 in · wettest months: July and May
Snow a year79.7 in · snowiest: January
Hottest on record99°F · July 3, 1966
Coldest on record−28°F · January 21, 1994
Wettest day on record4.63 in · July 20, 1977
Snowiest day on record24.0 in · December 11, 1992
90° days a year2 · on average, 1991–2020
Nights at or below 32°156 · and 39 days that stay below freezing
Climate typeWarm-summer humid continental · Köppen Dfb
1Freeze season · from the first fall freeze, about Oct. 1, to the last in spring, about May 18 (median dates)
2Highs below freezing · Jan. 12 to Jan. 26; normal highs stay below 32°
3Lows below freezing · Nov. 1 to April 12; normal lows fall below 32°
NOVEMBER 14 IN THE RECORD

On November 14 Washington normally reaches 48° and falls to 29°. The record high is 69°, in 1994; the record low 5°, in 1986. The most rain on this date, 0.74 in, fell in 1993.

Normals 1991–2020 and records since 1964 at Ebensburg Sewage Plant, 8 miles northwest, 500 ft lower. NOAA, through RCC-ACIS.
3

Where the rain goes

≈ 2,080 mito the Gulf of AmericaLittle Conemaugh → Conemaugh → Kiskiminetas → Allegheny → Ohio → Mississippi

A raindrop that lands in Washington reaches the Gulf of America by way of the Little Conemaugh, the Conemaugh, the Kiskiminetas, the Allegheny, the Ohio and the Mississippi: about 2,080 river miles.

970 miles of the trip are on the Ohio.