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Concrete Pouring Weather in Scranton, PA: 10-Day Windows & Best Months

In Scranton, the label math works from May through October: that's the stretch with 8+ workable days a month against typical concrete pouring rules. The single best month is September, averaging 20 days that clear every check — highs of 75°F, lows near 54°F, and a 33% daily rain chance. The strip above runs Scranton's live forecast; the table below ranks all 12 months.

GOOD — clears every rule MARGINAL — exactly one soft miss NO — a hard fail, or two soft

The rules this check uses

Every verdict above applies this table to Scranton's hours. DIY scope only: the freeze row outranks everything, and structural work belongs to engineer/ACI specifications.

Typical label thresholds for concrete pouring — the ruleset behind every Scranton verdict above.
CheckThresholdWhy it matters
Air temperature 40–90°F — ideal 50–85°F Checked across the working day, 8 a.m.–6 p.m., against Scranton's hourly forecast — not just the daily high.
Overnight low ≥40°F during the first 48 h The engine reads every overnight hour in the cure window, not just Scranton's forecast low.
Dry before no soaking (≥1.0") in the prior 24 h Rain before the pour only matters if the ground is soaked or standing in water.
Dry after <0.1" rain for 6 h after (12 h light rain after finishing still risks surface marks) A downpour in the first 6 hours can wash the surface; after final set, rain actually helps curing.
Wind ≤20 mph (rapid surface drying up to 28 mph) Wind wrecks application first (drift, lap marks) and carries debris into wet work second.

Always follow your product label — formulas vary. These rows are the industry-typical range; the can in your Scranton garage is the contract.

Best months for concrete pouring in Scranton

Workable days in Scranton, PA: days meeting the temperature rules, discounted by NOAA rain odds — a 1991–2020 estimate, not a forecast.
MonthAvg highAvg lowRain odds/dayWorkable days 
January 36°F 20°F 40% 0
February 39°F 22°F 40% 0
March 48°F 29°F 39% 0
April 61°F 39°F 41% 8
May 72°F 50°F 42% 18
June 80°F 58°F 41% 18
July 85°F 63°F 37% 19
August 82°F 61°F 35% 20
September 75°F 54°F 33% 20
October 63°F 43°F 35% 17
November 51°F 34°F 35% 0
December 40°F 26°F 39% 0

Figure 120 workable days a year in Scranton, spread across May through October. Shoulder months turn on the overnight rule: an afternoon at 72°F passes, but the 40°F night floor is what actually opens the season in May. For the statewide picture, the Pennsylvania page compares peak months city by city.

Sealing the same driveway later? Sealcoating in Scranton wants warmer nights (50°F+) than the pour did.

Numbers above come from NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for Wilkes-Barre Intl Ap, Pa Us, 9.2 km from the city center — close enough that neighborhood microclimates (shade lines, river valleys, urban heat) matter more than station distance. See how these day counts are scored.

Scranton by the numbers

Prep checklist

  1. Clear the 48-hour rule first: two nights over 40°F. May opens that door in Scranton; January (20°F average lows) slams it.
  2. Set the stage first: forms braced, subgrade compacted and lightly damp, every tool within reach, help confirmed.
  3. Cut plastic sheeting and weight it at the pour's edge — Scranton sees rain on 33% of September days, and the 6-hour rule doesn't negotiate.
  4. Keep the mix stiff (oatmeal, not soup) — every extra quart of water is permanent surface strength lost.
  5. Screed while it sheens, float when the sheen dulls, and never trowel bleed water back in.
  6. Edge and joint with an edger + float set — control joints every 2–3 slab-thicknesses in feet.
  7. Hold the moisture in (sheeting or misting); when October nights dip toward 43°F, a curing blanket is the difference.
  8. Feet after 24–48 h, cars after about a week — and structural work follows engineer/ACI specs, not this list.

Gear that saves a window

FTC note: the gear below is unlinked until the affiliate program is switched on. See the affiliate disclosure.

FAQ

What temperature is too cold to pour concrete?

The line is a 40°F low inside the first 48 hours; an actual freeze (32°F) physically damages young concrete. Scranton's January nights average 20°F — firmly out — while September nights hold near 54°F. Small pours only; structural work follows engineer/ACI specs.

Can you pour concrete before rain?

The engine wants 6 protected hours; light rain later actually feeds the cure. With 42% rain-day odds in May versus 33% in September, Scranton's dry-season pours barely think about this rule and wet-season pours live by the radar. For small DIY pours; structural schedules follow ACI.

How long does concrete need to be protected from freezing?

Keep it above freezing for at least the first 48 hours (the engine calls any sub-40°F low in that window a NO). In Scranton that rules out roughly January-adjacent months entirely and makes shoulder-season pours a two-night forecast decision. DIY scope; anything structural follows engineer/ACI cold-weather practice.

Is it OK to pour concrete in hot weather?

To a 90°F high, yes — with shade, cool mix water, a damp subgrade, and a dawn start. Above 90°F the surface sets while the core is plastic and shrinkage cracks map the slab. Scranton averages 0 such days in July — rarely the binding constraint here.

How long before you can drive on new concrete?

A week before tires, 24–48 hours before feet — at September-typical Scranton temperatures (75°F highs). When nights slide toward 20°F, add days: cure speed is temperature. Early loads print permanent marks; the bag's cure table wins every argument.

Best season for concrete work in Scranton?

May through october — the months with 40°F+ nights, sub-90°F days, and manageable rain. September leads at 20 workable days; January bottoms out near 0.

Other projects in Scranton

Concrete Pouring nearby

Guides

Climatology: NOAA 1991–2020 normals via WILKES-BARRE INTL AP, PA US (9.2 km from Scranton center, elevation 930 ft); live outlook by Open-Meteo.