Saucon Source (https://sauconsource.com/tag/ice/)
Tuesday’s spring-like weather seemed to confirm what Punxsutawney Phil predicted Sunday, with highs reaching nearly 60 degrees in places. The National Weather Service, however, is attempting to throw a wet blanket on their furry rival’s prognostication with a forecast that calls for an abrupt return to winter.
Although it’s mid-January, the Lehigh Valley area has not yet been hit with a significant winter storm this season. That could change this weekend, however.
Monday’s dreary weather very well may have been the proverbial calm before a nuisance-type winter storm arrives in Saucon Valley.
How much, how long and how far this way or that way? A frequent topic of conversation around Hellertown Saturday was the weather forecast for Sunday and Monday, when winter weather is supposed to affect the area for the first time this season.
Just when you thought the weather was quieting down, Old Man Winter is preparing to rear his white and wizened head later this weekend, when forecasters say he could wallop our area with snow and ice.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for 10 a.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday, when it says “heavy mixed precipitation” including 3 to 5 inches of snow and up to a tenth of an inch of ice are possible.
In the wake of a winter storm that closed Saucon Valley schools for two days last week the weather turned mild and sunny on Friday, but don’t be fooled. Mother Nature is planning to deliver a one-two punch of winter weather to our area, according to forecasters.
Saucon Valley students will enjoy another snow day Tuesday, as a winter storm is expected to blanket the region with a mixture of precipitation that will likely include snow, sleet and freezing rain.
A couple of winter weather systems are expected to affect the Lehigh Valley Monday and Tuesday, with a break in the action in between them. What falls on either side of that break is forecast to be frozen, but what form it takes, and the forecast for where it falls is subject to interpretation.
Overnight Friday most weather forecasters dramatically lowered their forecast snowfall amounts for this weekend’s winter storm, although as of Saturday morning a snow emergency was still scheduled to take effect in Hellertown borough at 1 pm.
