BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A strong storm system set to move through during the weekend will bring widespread and potentially heavy precipitation, forecasters said.
The Lehigh Valley will begin the weekend under a winter weather advisory in effect from noon Saturday until 1 a.m. Sunday.
The National Weather Service is calling for mixed precipitation, with total snow accumulations 2 to 4 inches and ice accumulations up to one tenth of an inch.
Here’s the breakdown of what should be “an active weekend in the weather department.”
Saturday
Gusty winds into tonight will lead to a cold end of the week, but w/ another storm approaching this weekend, the roller coaster continues. Some esp. NW of I-95 may see snow Saturday aft. into Saturday night, with some ice potential. Heavy rain is poss. Sunday with a flood risk. pic.twitter.com/7B8eOztEDV
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) February 13, 2025
Clouds are expected to lower and thicken, with precipitation developing over the area west to east during the early to mid-afternoon time frame.
“This is a slightly later onset than previous thinking, as it will take some time for dry air in the lower levels to become saturated enough for precipitation,” the weather service said in its latest forecast discussion.
But once it begins, the storm is expected to bring a thump of snow to the Lehigh Valley.
“There will be greater concerns for wintry precip lasting further into Saturday night,” the weather service said.
“Getting up toward the I-78 corridor, expect snow to mix with and change to sleet and freezing rain into Saturday evening, with the potential for several hours of a wintry mix before an eventual change to rain.”
The Lehigh Valley falls within the zone where 2 to 4 inches of snow and sleet is expected, with the potential for some ice accretion to follow.
“Sleet’s going to be a little brief on this one, I think, but we’re going to have some freezing rain to contend with,” EPAWA meteorologist Bobby Martrich said in his latest video update.
Sunday
“Heading into Sunday, all areas should become rain,” the weather service said.
That includes the entirety of the region as we get into the storm’s warm sector, with highs in the Lehigh Valley pushing into the mid to upper 40s.
A cold front will trail the system, with much colder temperatures coming through on Sunday evening, Martrich said.
“We’ll also be dealing with windy conditions,” he said, with gusts that could be in the 40 to 45 mph range in the Lehigh Valley.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody hits 50 with the initial burst,” he said, calling it a “prolonged wind event through Monday with power outage concerns.”
