Emporium
The climate of Emporium is characterized by comparatively short cool summers and long cold winters with 42 inches of precipitation well distributed throughout the year. Summer temperatures are near 68°: maxima in low 80s-minima in the mid 50s for a daily range of about 26&#nbsp;. During the period of late May through early September, 90&#nbsp; readings are reached on an average of 12 days during the period 1926-1955 and 8 days during the period 1969-1996, however, there are summers when such temperatures are absent entirely. On the other hand, such temperatures have been observed as early as mid April and unusually warm summers may produce 15 to 20 days with 90° or higher readings. During the summer of 1936, there were 24 such occurrences, 13 recorded in July which included 3 days of 100° plus temperatures, reaching a record 103° on July 9, 1936. From December through February, temperatures remain below freezing most of the time. Many of the winter months have mean temperatures below 25° with the coldest month of record January 1918 when temperatures averaged 13° and the monthly mean minima was 3°. The lowest temperature ever recorded at Emporium was -31° on January 13, 1912. The daily temperature range is generally smaller in winter than in any other season due to widespread cloudiness which is prevalent from late November through March.
Although daytime temperatures normally reach into the 50s by April and into the low 70s in May, nights remain cool until mid May. The average date of the last 32° temperature is Spring is May 19. In the fall the average date of the first 32° temperature is September 29, even though daily maxima climb into the 60s in October. Year to year variations in weather patterns have resulted in 32° temperatures as late as mid June and as early as the end of August over the period of record. However, there is only a 10% chance of freezing weather occurring at Emporium after June 2 or before September 15. The growing season, defined as the interval between the last 32° temperature in spring and the first in fall averages 133 days, but seasons have ranged from 100 to 170 days.
Precipitation is normally abundant throughout the year. Annual amounts, while ranging from 31 to 63 inches over the period of record, average slightly more than 42 inches. With the exception of February and December, monthly totals are normally in the 3.0 to 4.4 inch category with better than 4 inches in May, June and July. The greatest monthly amount of record was 12.35 in July 1902. Nearly 50% of the annual precipitation is received during the 5 month, May through September, growing season occurring primarily from showers and thunderstorms of which the latter average 30 to 35 per year. As a result, the rainfall is mostly of short duration. Amounts of as much as 1.7 inches in one hour and 7.5 inches in 24 hours have been observed in the area. Dry spells may develop anytime but are most numerous during summer and fall. During October 1963, a 23 day interval without rain was encountered and only .25 inch recorded during the entire month. Fortunately, the chances of receiving less than one inch of precipitation per month are extremely small.
From November through March most of the precipitation is in the form of snow which is both frequent and abundant. Seasonal amounts average 43 inches but have ranged from 13 to 87 inches over the period of record. Amounts of 50 inches or more can be expected about once every 3 years. The greatest monthly snowfall ever recorded at Emporium was 32 inches in January 1923. A snowcover of varying depths is present most of the winter season.