Pennsylvania's weather is influenced by three main air masses: continental polar, continental tropical, and maritime tropical.
- Continental polar air masses originate in the Arctic and bring cold, dry weather to Pennsylvania in the winter.
- Continental tropical air masses come from the Gulf of Mexico and provide hot, humid air in the summer months.
- Maritime tropical air masses develop over the Atlantic Ocean and are responsible for warm and wet conditions in Pennsylvania.
The interactions between these air masses often produce the state's variable weather patterns, including thunderstorms, snowstorms, and heat waves.
