BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh Valley residents were able to enjoy a summer weekend without blistering temperatures and high humidity, but all good things must come to an end.
The National Weather Service warns the week has a good chance to be one of the wettest of the summer thus far, with the potential for showers and storms daily through Thursday.
A few could even cause flooding, with the area at risk of excessive rainfall for the next few days, starting Monday.
The NWS issued a special weather statement for the Lehigh Valley, stating the area could see rainfall rates upwards of two inches per hour, which could result in localized flash flooding.
Early morning issues for neighboring counties
Flash Flood Warning including Reading PA, Wyomissing PA and Shillington PA until 7:30 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/5i2lRlPCMd
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) July 22, 2024
Monday dawned with a persistent area of showers and thunderstorms across parts of Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.
A flash-flood warning was issued for southeast Berks County after 2 to 3 inches of rain fell in some areas.
“The potential for excessive rainfall leading to flash flooding will continue to be the primary concern for much of the rest of the near-term forecast period as well,” the weather service said in its latest forecast discussion.
Here’s how the week could play out:
Monday
A continuing southwesterly flow will draw moisture into the region, increasing precipitable water values — or PWATs — throughout the day, the weather service said.
Additional moisture will be drawn in off the ocean, and by the afternoon and evening, areas of showers will look to develop, along with some embedded thunderstorms.
“The primary concern is that with the embedded thunderstorms, heavy downpours will be possible and they may be slow-moving and train over the same area,” the NWS forecast discussion said.
Good Monday morning! Some heavy showers/t-storms early this morning in parts of eastern PA, then these become more numerous by later this afternoon and tonight. Some very heavy rain the next few days could lead to a local flash flooding risk. #pawx #njwx #dewx #mdwx pic.twitter.com/R02lyAh9z1
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) July 22, 2024
The WPC has parts of the region — including western Lehigh County and a small part of Northampton County — at a slight risk (2 out of 4) for excessive rainfall, with the remainder of the Lehigh Valley mainly at a marginal risk (1 out of 4).
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to move through the area into the early part of the overnight hours before becoming more scattered.
Tuesday through Thursday
The marginal risk for excessive rainfall will continue Tuesday through Thursday, with some showers and thunderstorms expected at times — along with even more humid conditions.
Most showers and storms will be primarily in the afternoon and evening hours, the weather service said, with the heavy rainfall potential remaining much of the week.
The bottom line is that showers and storms will be hit-or-miss for many. That means some areas could stay mostly dry this week, while others may see downpours occur.
The pattern looks to shift in time for the weekend, forecasters say, with drier air moving in from the northwest on Friday.
