Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, is situated on the east bank of the Susquehanna River. It is in the Great Valley formed by the eastern foothills of the Appalachian Chain, and about 60 miles southeast of the Commonwealths geographic center. It is nested in a saucer-like bowl, 10 miles south of Blue Mountain, which serves as a barrier to provide a modifying influence upon the severe winter climate experienced 50 to 100 miles to the north and west. Although the severity of the winter climate is lessened, the city lies a little too far inland to derive the full benefits of the coastal Climate.

Air masses change with some regularity, and any one condition does not persist for many days in succession. The mountain barrier occasionally prevents cold waves from reaching the Great Valley. The city is favorably located to receive precipitation produced when warm, maritime air from the Atlantic Ocean is forced upslope to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Growing Season is 192 days.

During June 1972, Hurricane Agnes produced 15.11 inches of rain from the 20th to the 23rd. Prolonged dry spells occur occasionally. During September and October 1947 there were 35 consecutive days with less then .01 inches of precipitation.

Floid stage on the Susquehanna River occurs on the average of about every three years in Harrisburg, but serious flooding is much less frequent. About one-third of all floods have occurred during March. Tropical hurricanes rarely reach Harrisburg with destructive winds.