BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Spring always is a turbulent season for weather, but consider this:
The Lehigh Valley is about to have its first snowless March on record, the National Weather Service said on X.
That's the same month in which overnight temperatures have averaged just 31 degrees — cold enough that places such as Blue Mountain Resort in Carbon County are still open for skiing.
The high temperature Wednesday in Allentown? It was 49 degrees. Frozen precipitation even fell from the sky in some areas.
Afternoon highs are expected to soar into the mid 70s to low 80s inland.National Weather Service forecast
But on Saturday, we might come close to a record high after a “potent” warm front pushes through the region.
“This weekend will feature an early-summer-like weather pattern,” the latest NWS forecast discussion said, highlighting dry conditions and a mix of sun and clouds expected Saturday afternoon."
Afternoon highs are expected to soar into the mid 70s to low 80s inland, the discussion said, though wind gusts up to 30 to 35 mph are possible.
It could’ve been a raw weekend
The warm front will spark some shower activity late Friday evening and into the overnight, EPAWA meteorologist Bobby Martrich said in his latest update.
“By the time we get to Saturday morning, this warm front is all the way up here,” Martrich said, drawing a boundary through the middle of upstate New York and into New England.
Martrich said some places near that boundary could see sleet or freezing rain mixed with some snow.
“This was dangerously close to being feast or famine in this case,” he said.
He said a boundary near or south of our area would’ve produced a “pretty raw, damp, chilly and rainy weekend.”
Instead, after highs in the 80s on Saturday, lows are expected to remain relatively mild Saturday night, even as the boundary begins to sag south.
“The boundary will then lift back north on Sunday back into New England,” the weather service forecast discussion said.
“Although temperatures are not expected to be as ‘warm’ compared to Saturday due to more cloud cover, highs should range from the mid 60s to mid 70s with a slight chance of showers late in the day.”
Storm risks Monday
A cold front is expected to cross the area late in the day Monday into Monday night, bringing showers and isolated thunderstorms.
“It’s still too early for any specifics,” the forecast discussion said, noting a few strong to severe storms may occur.
The Storm Prediction Center has much of the region highlighted in its severe weather outlook for Monday afternoon and evening.
Behind the front, Canadian high pressure is expected to return next week, with temperatures returning to more seasonable levels, the weather service said.
