Final snow forecast: 5-8 inches
Late-shifting storm could stay in Valley through afternoon
The Lehigh Valley is poised to get more snow Tuesday than what was initially expected after “significant changes” to the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service has issued a winter storm warning for the area, and said both Lehigh and Northampton counties could get 5-8 inches of snow. The Poconos is expected to get more than a foot of snow.
The expectation for what the Lehigh Valley could get has varied over the last few days. On Friday, forecasters were not sure if the storm would bring rain or snow. On Saturday, forecasters expected 4-8 inches of snow from the storm, but that changed Sunday to 2-3 inches. They were calling for 7-10 inches for a time, before settling late on 5-8 inches.
In the latest storm update, weather officials said heavy snow was now expected to continue through Tuesday afternoon.
Robert Deal, meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, said there was a shift in the guidance models that showed the storm was tracking farther south than initially expected, which resulted in the change in initial snowfall projections.
The storm was expected to start in the early morning as rain and change to snow between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. The snowfall could be heavy at the start, with some coming down at rates of 1-2 inches an hour, according to Deal.
“The morning commute could be particularly hazardous,” he said.
The weather service said there would be heavy snow north of Interstate 78. Areas south of there could see less snow.
Upper Bucks County could get similar snowfall totals, but areas farther south will likely see less, with 1-2 inches expected there. Predictions earlier Monday called for possible 12-18 inches of snow north of the Lehigh Valley, but that was downgraded later to 5-8 inches.
The warning went into effect at midnight and continues until 3 p.m. Tuesday. The snow should stop Tuesday afternoon, but it could take some time for crews to clear the roads.
Deal encouraged residents to avoid travel during the morning commute Tuesday, if possible. In addition to avoiding the potentially treacherous conditions, it would also let road crews handle the snow.
“If you can, allow other people to get the roads clean and make stuff better for everybody,” he said.
Ahead of the storm, PennDOT announced restrictions starting at 3 a.m. on major roads for some tractor-trailers, empty delivery trucks, passenger vehicles towing trailers, recreational vehicles, school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches and motorcycles. In the Lehigh Valley, they include Interstate 78, Route 22, Route 33 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension from Interstate 78 to Interstate 80.
Additionally, commercial vehicles are not permitted on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension from I-80 to Clarks Summit during that time period.
The storm marks the first snowfall of the month in the Lehigh Valley. Last month, Lehigh Valley International Airport recorded more than 10 inches of snow between three storms.
It’s been several weeks since the last snowfall. February has been largely mild, with temperatures reaching the upper 50s over several days last week. Other than Monday, which is expected to have a high of 50, temperatures will return to normal this week. High temperatures in the 30s are expected through at least the weekend.
There is also a slight possibility of snow Thursday and Saturday.