Considerable agricultural land lies in the valley much of which is under cultivation. Second growth forests provide the vegetative cover on the surrounding higher elevations. The greatest attraction is, of course, the Pennsylvania State University located on the north side of town. The climate of State College is characteristic of the centralized location within the State. It is a composite of the relatively dry midwestern continental climate and the more humid conditions found near the eastern seaboard.
Winters are cold and relatively dry while summers are warm and frequently humid.
Temperatures generally remain below freezing most of the time from mid November through most of March but only occasionally do minimum readings dip below zero. Between the cold spells that move across the area every few days in winter are brief periods of moderate and occasionally mild temperatures. The daily temperature range is generally smaller in winter than in any other season due in large part to widespread cloudiness that is prevalent from late November through March. Summer and fall are the most pleasant seasons of the year. Spring and fall are the transition seasons when temperatures cover a broad range.