 The higher elevation leads to a cooler climate, and the basin helps trap denser, cooler air, leading to longer winters and milder summers.The cooler climate also means the park is home to animals and plants typically found much further north.The Allegheny Plateau has a continental climate, with occasional severe low temperatures in winter and average daily temperature ranges of 20°F (11°C) in winter and 26°F (14°C) in summer.