Snow squalls possible Sunday as all focus turns to storm threat next week
With all eyes on a coastal storm that could bring snow to the Lehigh Valley early next week, the region could be in for some quick bursts of heavy snow even sooner.
There is an “increasing confidence” that snow showers will develop across the region Sunday, with snow squalls possible, as an arctic front moves through, according to the National Weather Service forecast discussion.
“Blowing snow, reduced visibilities and the potential for a flash freeze are all possible along this line,” the forecast warns.
The snow showers are expected to move into the region by midmorning. Areas most likely to see snow squalls are the higher elevations of eastern Pennsylvania, which includes the Poconos and parts of the Lehigh Valley, according to the forecast discussion.
Wind will also be a factor Sunday, with gusts up to 40 mph.
Sunday’s snow showers could end up being the prelude for a much bigger coastal storm Tuesday. However, there’s still much uncertainty around the exact track a coastal low pressure system will take, making for a “challenging forecast,” according to the weather service.
If that coastal low takes a more northerly track, then “a snow event will be on the horizon for our region as the system will have access to plenty of cold air this time around,” the forecast discussion says.
However, if the storm moves west to east, then the region could escape with only a few light snow showers.
Part of what will determine what direction the system takes is whether the jet stream takes a dip, according to AccuWeather.
“Should a large dip develop in the jet stream, then a major winter storm will climb the Atlantic coast from Monday night to Tuesday night,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bob Smerbeck said. “However, should only a shallow dip in the jet stream develop, the storm would be more likely to escape off the southern Atlantic coast by midweek.”
Either way, AccuWeather sees the potential for a plowable snow across much of the region.