BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Another surge of heat and humidity is on the way for the Lehigh Valley, days after it notched back-to-back record highs.
The temperature soared to 96 degrees at Lehigh Valley International Airport both Saturday and Sunday, breaking the previous daily records of 95 degrees set back in 1965.
The area also tied a record high low temperature, with a minimum of 71 degrees on Sunday tying the previous record highest minimum temperature for the date set in 2017.
But the heat, which broke across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Monday, is set to come fighting back, forecasters warn, with another risk of strong to severe thunderstorms across the region.
Tranquil Tuesday, dry heat takes a turn
The National Weather Service said high pressure will shift south of the region Tuesday but remain in control, bringing fair weather throughout the day.
The Lehigh Valley will see mostly sunny skies, but a west-southwest wind will bump up temperatures significantly compared with Monday, with highs in the upper 80s expected.
The good news?
“Despite the warmer temperatures, dew points will remain comfortably in the 50s, giving us a small taste of that ‘dry heat’ our friends across the western U.S. are used to,” the latest NWS forecast discussion said.
Storms could rattle the region
1:03am CDT #SPC Day2 Outlook Slight Risk: for parts of the Northeast and Mid Atlantic https://t.co/Y1WiOd8TQQ pic.twitter.com/JdM1uz7kqE
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) June 25, 2024
The wedge of less humid air will be pushed out on Wednesday as a severe weather threat moves east, putting the Lehigh Valley at risk of storms with hail, damaging wind gusts and even a couple tornadoes possible ahead of a cold front.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, the risk of severe weather will increase during the afternoon and evening, but it remains to be seen if severe storms will survive long enough to approach the area.
“I don’t want to dismiss it,” said EPAWA meteorologist Bobby Martrich in his latest video update.
Martrich said some models have shown potential for a mesoscale convective system, or thunderstorms organized on a larger scale, while others have backed off the idea.
“A mesoscale convective system has the ability to produce some severe weather, and we do have a slight risk for severe weather across the heart of our region that was put in place by the SPC," he said.
Matrich said he also wouldn’t be surprised to see the outlook upgraded to an enhanced risk for severe weather on Wednesday.
“That is going to be both a straight-line wind damage threat and also there is a chance for tornadoes closest to the area of low pressure and where it tracks," he said, highlighting the track will be key to the severe weather threat.
But even with the storm threat Wednesday, the weather service said the prospect for widespread rain to end our currently mostly dry streak does not appear favorable, with more hot weather on tap for next week just in time for Independence Day.
