Snow is impacting the Lehigh Valley on Saturday, but that’s just the beginning.
The region remains under a winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service in Mounty Holly, New Jersey, through 1 a.m. Sunday. But the bigger story could be the dangerous winds that will follow, with a high wind warning in effect from 1 p.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday.
Snowfall totals along the Interstate 78 corridor are expected to between 1 and 3 inches, with small amounts of ice accumulation.
As snow overspread the region early Saturday afternoon before turning to a wintry mix, slick roads led to numerous crashes around the region, including a serious one on Route 145 at Chestnut Street in Whitehall Township, according to emergency radio dispatches. PennDOT reduced speed limits to 45 mph on Interstates 78 and 81 and restricted motorcycles, RVs, buses and some tractor-trailers.
The precipitation was expected to change to freezing rain, and then all rain, later Saturday evening, with the overnight low right around freezing.
It will continue to rain as the sun comes up Sunday, and temperatures will rise to a high of 51 degrees, according to the weather service.
“The main concern for wintry weather impacts is for areas near and north of the Interstate 78 corridor,” the NWS said in its forecast discussion. “In these areas, although snow accumulations are expected to be barely advisory level (or in some cases below the guidance for advisories), the main impacts are going to be coming with the period of sleet and freezing rain in between the snow and the change over to all rain.”
Higher elevations may continue to see icy conditions through Sunday morning, especially in the Poconos and northwest New Jersey.
“Consequently, ice amounts of up to three-tenths-of-an-inch are possible in the higher terrain of these areas,” the NWS said. “The combination of the snow and ice will create slippery conditions. In areas that get more ice accumulation, some minor tree and wire is possible. The good news is that conditions will improve quickly once the temperature gets above freezing, as with rain continuing to fall, any ice and snow should melt quickly.”
With the wet weather, the NWS says to stay on the lookout for localized flooding in areas with poor drainage. Also, don’t be surprised to hear some thunder on Sunday morning.
The bigger threat later Sunday will be the high winds. Winds of between 25 and 35 mph — with damaging gusts up to 60 mph — are possible, according to the high wind warning from the weather service.
The wind gusts, combined with wet soils from the snow and rain, could topple trees and power lines, leading to the possibility of “widespread power outages,” according to the weather service. Travel could become difficult for high profile vehicles as well.
The winds will usher in much colder air, with temperatures Sunday night dropping to the mid 20s, according to the weather service.
Here is the extended forecast from the National Weather Service:
Saturday Night: Rain, snow and freezing rain, possibly mixed with sleet before 9 p.m., then rain after 10 p.m. Low around 32. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New ice accumulation of less than one inch is possible.
Sunday: A chance of rain, then showers after 7 a.m. High around 51. Breezy with an east wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy with a low around 25. Breezy with a west wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 31. Windy, with a west wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. Breezy.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 29.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 29.
Wednesday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday: Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday night: Mostly cloudy with a low around 19.
Friday: Partly sunny, high around 33.
Originally Published: February 15, 2025 at 11:03 AM EST
