A messy storm system that is forecast to bring heavy rain to the area Friday and Friday night could also bring freezing rain and sleet early Saturday, according to a National Weather Service winter weather advisory that has been issued for the Lehigh Valley.
Although temperatures will be unusually mild Friday–with highs in the low 60s–they are forecast to plummet from near 50 at around midnight to around 30 by 7 a.m., “with icing developing rapidly toward daybreak Saturday on gusty north to northwest winds,” the weather service warned.
Poor drainage and “nuisance flooding” is possible during the day Friday, but once the temperature drops to 32 any remaining water on untreated roads, driveways, sidewalks and other surfaces will freeze, it said.
Forecast accumulations of up to a tenth of an inch of ice could make roadways slippery and create hazardous travel conditions throughout the day Saturday, as temperatures continue to fall into the teens by evening.
Looking further ahead, there is the possibility for accumulating snow from a storm that could impact the area on Tuesday, the NWS said.