Forecasters: Snow to Accumulate Saturday Night, With Bitter Cold to Follow

If you’ve been hoping for a forecast that includes snow, you’re in luck. The National Weather Service and other forecasters say the Lehigh Valley can expect up to several inches of snow Saturday night and early Sunday.

The NWS has issued a winter weather advisory for Lehigh and Northampton counties for 7 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday, when it says 2 to 4 inches of snow could accumulate. The advisory also covers Morris and Warren counties in New Jersey, and Berks County in Pennsylvania. Further south, where the forecast is for up to 6 inches of snow, a winter storm warning is in effect for lower Bucks County, eastern Montgomery County, Philadelphia and other parts of the I-95 corridor in southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Further north, in the Poconos, 2 to 3 inches of snow are expected.

According to a forecast discussion from meteorologists at the NWS office in Mount Holly, N.J., snow is likely to begin in the Allentown area by around 8 p.m. Saturday, with the highest snowfall rates expected early Sunday morning. The discussion indicated that there is a 95 percent chance that Allentown will receive at least one inch of snow, but only a 9 percent chance that it will receive six or more inches. On the other hand, there is a 100 percent chance that Philadelphia will receive at least one inch of snow, and a 38 percent chance that the city will receive half a foot or more.

Behind the winter storm, temperatures are forecast to plunge as Arctic air moves into the Northeastern U.S., with the coldest temperatures expected Sunday night through Tuesday. With winds gusting as high as 30 mph, wind chills in the single digits to near zero are possible Sunday night and air temperatures are expected to remain below freezing until Wednesday.

Sunday’s forecast has prompted the cancellation of at least one local event. The Hellertown Historical Society notified its email subscribers Saturday that its Shopping at the Mill and Santa’s visit scheduled for Sunday will not be held due to the weather.

“It is with deep regret that we are canceling Sunday’s Shopping at the Mill and Santa Visit,” it said. “The forecast for Saturday night into Sunday shows a brief accumulation of snow followed by windy, blustery conditions and frigid windchills into the single digits. Our concern is for the safety of the children who would be exposed to these conditions unnecessarily. We value the safety of everyone, thus the reason for our decision. We hope those of you who planned to attend will understand.”

HHS officials said vendors who had already paid fees to participate in the event will receive full refunds.

Residents should continue to monitor local news and weather channels for updates to the forecast, and expect to encounter slippery road conditions if they will be driving in eastern Pennsylvania or New Jersey Saturday night or Sunday morning.