Winter storm could dump up to 15 inches of snow on Lehigh Valley
By Laurie Mason Schroeder and Molly Bilinski
The approaching slow-moving snowstorm could dump between 9 and 15 inches of snow on the Lehigh Valley from Sunday to Tuesday, meteorologists said Saturday afternoon.
There are still some uncertainties in how the snowstorm will track, but it will likely cause “considerable travel impacts” because snow will be falling for a long time, and wind gusts of 40 mph are possible, according to Empire Weather, which provides localized forecasts for The Morning Call.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning effective 5 p.m. Sunday through 1 p.m. Tuesday for Lehigh, Lower Bucks, Northampton, Upper Bucks,
Carbon and Monroe counties, with hazardous conditions impacting morning and evening commutes.
Here’s what to expect, according to Empire:
Light to moderate snow will work its way into the area on Sunday afternoon in the Philadelphia suburbs and arrive Sunday evening in the Lehigh Valley. This snow will continue through the overnight, though it may fluctuate in consistency and intensity.
As the storm transitions to a coastal low, there could be a brief window of sleet, or a dry period late overnight Sunday into early Monday. By late Monday morning through much of the evening the area should see the most consistent, heaviest snowfall of the storm, likely over one inch per hour at times.
Some snow showers could continue on Tuesday as well, though the system will be much weaker by this point, meteorologists said.
The Poconos could get heavier snowfall on Monday evening. The Philadelphia suburbs will likely see snowfall Sunday before the storm reaches the Lehigh Valley, and it should end earlier there.
PennDOT is advising motorists to avoid all unnecessary travel during the upcoming storm. PennDOT anticipates implementing travel restrictions, including 45 mph speed limits and prohibiting some trucks and other vehicles, on major highways starting Sunday afternoon.
Alerts on road conditions and closures during the storm can be found at www.511pa.com.
Morning Call reporter Laurie Mason Schroeder can be reached at lmason@mcall.com.