After what has felt like a fairly brief fall, winter weather in the form of snow could arrive more than a month early in Saucon Valley this Thursday, according to the National Weather Service’s latest hazardous weather outlook for the Lehigh Valley area.
On Monday afternoon, the NWS said a developing coastal storm “may bring heavy precipitation and gusty winds to the area Thursday into Friday.”
“A wintry mix is likely with some snow accumulation, however there is uncertainty with the details,” the statement concluded.
Many local residents head to the store to stock up on bread, eggs and milk whenever there is snow in the forecast.
The weather forecasting site PA Weather Action alluded to the possibility of winter weather later this week in its daily forecast for Monday, with lead forecaster Josh Adams referring to “a potential winter storm” and advising readers to “stay tuned.”
Area residents should continue to monitor their latest local forecasts, particularly since some trees haven’t yet lost their leaves, and the weight of a heavy wet snow on leaf-bearing branches could potentially bring them down on power lines.
A rainstorm that is forecast to affect the area tonight and Tuesday may help to accelerate the trees’ autumnal loss of their leaves, however.
Thursday’s high is forecast to be 38 degrees, with a low of 35.
On Friday the temperature is forecast to climb to 47, with “rain and snow likely” and changing to all rain after 8 a.m. before gradually ending, according to the National Weather Service.
That early ending may bode well for the Saucon Valley Homecoming bonfire, which has been postponed three times over the past month due to inclement weather.
Saucon Valley Athletic Director Bob Frey said Monday that as of now the rescheduled bonfire is scheduled to be held Friday at 7 p.m.
He said he cannot ever recall the bonfire being postponed once, let alone three times.
If its postponement is necessary a fourth time, “we would have to talk to and coordinate with our Senior Class and Senior Class advisor since the bonfire is one of their activities,” Frey said. “Obviously the wood has to burn at some point, but we would have to decide how and when to best do that.”
The Panthers are scheduled to play Bethlehem Catholic for the District XI AAAA football championship this Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Nazareth Area High School.
