BETHLEHEM, Pa. — As a winter storm tapered off Sunday night, weather headlines shifted from precipitation to dangerous cold.
While the snow took a few hours to start piling up, by mid-afternoon it was falling at rates of 2 inches per hour in some locations.
The National Weather Service reported these totals within 5 p.m. Sunday to 12 a.m. Monday:
Lehigh County
SSW Ancient Oaks: 7.3 inches
Weisenberg Twp.: 7.3 inches
Wescosville: 7.1 inches
Alburtis: 7 inches
Whitehall Twp.: 6.5 inches
Salisbury Twp.: 6.2 inches
Coplay: 6.1 inches
Emmaus: 5.8 inches
Lehigh Valley International Airport: 5.7 inches
ASOS Allentown: 5.5 inches
West Allentown: 5.0 inches
Center Valley: 5.5 inches
North Whitehall Twp.: 6.1 inches
Germansville: 5.5 inches
Northampton County
North Catasauqua: 6.6 inches
Nazareth: 7 inches
Easton: 6.2 inches
Tatamy: 6 inches
Berlinsville: 5 inches
Bangor: 5.5 inches
Martins Creek: 4.6 inches
Moore Twp.: 4.5 inches
Bushkill Twp.: 5.2 inches
Hellertown: 4.3 inches
Churchville: 3 inches
Cold weather advisory
Sunday afternoon, the weather service issued a cold weather advisory for the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas in effect until at least 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Shortly after the weather service's cold weather advisory was issued, UGI Utilities sent an email to customers encouraging them to consider reducing energy usage ahead of plummeting temperatures.
The NWS warned of "very cold wind chills as low as 14 below expected." It said it's likely the advisory will be extended "as temperatures stay dangerously cold through much of the week."
"The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia and frostbite if precautions are not taken," the advisory says.
The weather service recommends using caution while traveling outside and wearing appropriate clothing such as a hat and gloves.
An updated forecast discussion Sunday night said the cold will begin to settle in for Monday, with temperatures remaining well below freezing for the entire area.
"Despite a mix of sun and clouds, highs are only expected to reach the low to mid-20s with only teens for the Pocono Plateau. Winds will also keep it blustery through the day with gusts of 20-30 mph out of the northwest," the discussion said.
"Wind chills will be in the teens to single digits as a result with our friends in the Poconos getting the short end of the stick with below zero wind chills all day.
"The big weather story Monday night into Wednesday will be the dangerously cold conditions," the discussion said.
Road restrictions, LANTA schedule
The state Transportation Department continues to urge motorists to avoid unnecessary travel.
It lifted temporary speed restriction on Interstate 78 in Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties, which had temporarily been reduced to 45 mph.
Also lifted were the speed limit and right-lane-only commercial vehicle restrictions that were in place area roadways.
But it still urged motorists to avoid unnecessary travel. PennDOT said it will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.
Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority will operate on a Sunday schedule in observance of Monday's Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Also, because of weather conditions, LANtaBus will follow Snow Emergency Routing. LANtaVan services will be limited to dialysis trips only, and LANtaFlex will not operate.
For more information on snow emergency routing, go to LANTA's website.
Digital content producer Makenzie Christman contributed to this report.
