When Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Feb. 2, predicting six more weeks of winter ahead, the furry little guy seemingly wasn’t wrong.
After a slight warmup earlier this week, temperatures began plunging midweek. By Saturday temperatures hovered in the single digits, with a ten-degree high predicted for both Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.
In Hazleton, residents would see a high of a mere seven degrees.
Cole Murdoch, 9, of Luzerne, and his father, Brian, drill a hole in the ice during the Nanticoke Conservation Club ice fishing derby at Frances Slocum State Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
That was cold enough “for snowmen to wear coats,” Alexa was informing those asking the devise for weather predictions.
But, what did this mean to average residents, many of whom were trying to make the best of a weekend which followed an extremely cold week.
To Kietryn Zychal of Cresco, the cold temperatures and high winds meant cancelling a trip from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station at Pittston to Jim Thorpe, for an afternoon exploring the area and enjoying a bite to eat with a friend.
In spite of those cancelled plans, Zychal still was headed to Wilkes-Barre to attend a movie with that same friend.
But, once in her car and experiencing strong winds as she drove from her home, she decided to save traveling and activity for another day.
Instead she headed back to her “cabin in the woods” to enjoy birds making their way to her bird feeder from the warmth and safety of her window.
Often, during winter weather, she said, the feeder is full, providing a bit of refuge and food for her winged friends.
Zychal, who once lived in Alaska, said it was unusual for her to cancel plans because of low temperatures.
Still, she was looking forward to a predicted mid-week warm up.
At Frances Slocum Lake in Kingston Township, ice fisherman were enjoying their day, in spite of single digit temperatures as part of the Nanticoke Conservation Club’s 29th ice fishing derby.
The event, however, also included plans to warm up at a local eatery to review the day and enjoy a meal.
Ice fishers participate in the Nanticoke Conservation Club ice fishing derby at Frances Slocum State Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Cole Murdoch, 9, of Luzerne, and his father, Brian, drill a hole in the ice during the Nanticoke Conservation Club ice fishing derby at Frances Slocum State Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Ice fishers participate in the Nanticoke Conservation Club ice fishing derby at Frances Slocum State Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Show Caption
1 of 3
Ice fishers participate in the Nanticoke Conservation Club ice fishing derby at Frances Slocum State Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Spending time outdoors in frigid temperatures can be safe, but people need to be extremely attentive and careful, said Michael Kistner, a lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Binghamton.
In temperatures hovering at zero, exposed skin can develop frostbite in as little as 30 minutes and hypothermia can set in within the same timeline.
So, its important to protect skin, wear layers and limit exposure, he said.
An extreme cold warning started Saturday morning and is scheduled to end on 1 p.m. Sunday for counties in NEPA.
Saturday’s high was predicted to be seven degrees, but northwest winds ranging from 14 to 17 mph and wind gusts as high as 30 mph will create dangerously cold wind chills as low as 25 to 30 below zero.
Sunday’s high is predicted at 16 with northwest winds 9 to 11 mph and wind gusts has high as 24 mph.
The good news?
The National Weather Service predicts temperatures above freezing on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Appropriate for the season, but viewed as a real warm up for many NEPA residents looking forward so spending some time outside comfortably, Kistner said.