An outbreak of Arctic air has invaded the Northeast and Saucon Valley, with temperatures plummeting well below freezing and forecast to fall even lower in the coming days.
“Nearly continuous subfreezing temperatures are expected this entire forecast period with potential impact on unprotected infrastructure,” the National Weather Service said in a hazardous weather outlook Wednesday.
Overnight lows in the single digits are forecast Wednesday night and Thursday night, and in the low teens Friday night and Saturday night.
“The coldest stretch of this Arctic outbreak is likely Sunday night into Tuesday night,” according to the NWS outlook.
Sunday’s and Monday’s high temperatures aren’t expected to crest 20 degrees, and Tuesday’s forecast high of 16 degrees is colder than the normal low temperature at this time of year.
If the cold early next week ends up being that extreme, wind chill advisories may be issued for parts of the area, the weather service said.
Wind chills Thursday could be as low as -3, according to the latest forecast.
To add to the wintry feel, there is a chance for some snow on Saturday, although forecasters haven’t been able to agree on how much of a chance.
“Models have not yet reconciled timing or the potential snow amounts associated with the Saturday threat, ” Eastern PA Weather Authority meteorologist Bobby Martrich wrote in a forecast discussion Wednesday.
“Tomorrow and beyond we should start to see better agreement on what exactly we are dealing with, and hope to find some clarity in future forecasts,” Martrich said.
