Weekend Snow Gives Way to Bitter Cold

As the area digs out from under snow that accumulated during back-to-back weekend storms, it is preparing to face another winter weather woe: bitter cold.

The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for Northampton and Lehigh counties for Tuesday morning until 10 a.m., when wind chills could be as low as 10 degrees below zero. According to the advisory, hypothermia could result if individuals are outside without proper winter attire on.

Temperatures Tuesday morning will be in the low teens, similar to Monday morning, when the mercury dropped to 12 degrees at Allentown. However winds will be a bit gustier, which will make the air temperature feel colder to exposed skin.

The arrival of the Arctic blast Tuesday will coincide with many people’s return to work and school following the three-day Martin Luther King Day weekend, which was an unusually snowy one.

Officially, nearly nine inches of snow was measured at Lehigh Valley International Airport in the wake of the weekend storms.

Saturday’s storm deposited 5.1 inches at the airport and Sunday’s added 3.6 inches to what was already on the ground.

So far this month, nine inches of snow has been recorded at LVIA, which is nearly double the normal amount at this point in January.

Temperatures for the month have been slightly above average, thanks to a thaw that occurred the second week of January.

That pattern shifted Thursday, and the deep freeze that’s begun is expected to be reinforced later this week, according to the latest Lehigh Valley forecasts.

According to the NWS’s five-day forecast, after a moderating temperature trend through Thursday–when a high close to 40 is expected–another blast of polar air will invade eastern Pennsylvania, with lows in the teens and highs in the single digits.

Saturday could be the coldest day the area has experienced in several years, with a high of around 16 and a low of around 4.

On Sunday, according to some forecast models, there could be additional snowfall.

Tips to Prevent Hypothermia

1. Dress in layers: Wear several loose-fitting, lightweight layers instead of one heavy garment. Try to innclude a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating middle layer and a waterproof outer layer.
2. Keep dry: Wet clothing loses its insulating ability. Change out of damp clothes as soon as possible.
3. Cover extremities: Wear a hat, gloves, scarf and warm socks. A lot of body heat is lost through the head and hands.
4. Stay active: Movement helps generate body heat, but avoid overexertion that causes sweating.
5. Eat and drink regularly: Warm, high-energy foods and non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated drinks help maintain body temperature.
6. Avoid alcohol: Alcohol can make you feel warm, but consuming alcohol actually lowers your body temperature.
7. Seek shelter from wind and moisture: Windy and wet conditions accelerate heat loss.
8. Use proper gear: When outdoors, use insulated boots, windproof jackets and thermal blankets if needed.
9. Monitor weather conditions: Check the latest forecasts before going out and plan accordingly.
10. Watch for early signs: Shivering, confusion, slurred speech and lethargy are warning signs of hyopthermia. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek a warm environment immediately.