Watch for severe thunderstorms in the Lehigh Valley
Rain and thunderstorms moved through the area Saturday night into early Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for a large swath of eastern Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley, until midnight.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania until 12 a.m. EST. pic.twitter.com/U7NCDhogey
– NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) August 12, 2023
Severe thunderstorms are expected across the region, according to the weather service. Some were capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain.
The storms are expected to end by 3 a.m., according to the forecast.
Large parts of the region were at a “slight” risk of severe weather on Saturday, according to the Met Office, with areas to our north at an “increased” risk.
Parts of northeastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey are now at increased risk for severe weather this afternoon and tonight. Damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes are possible with storms that will become severe later today. Make sure you have multiple ways to receive warnings! pic.twitter.com/F9dqSObY0E
– NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) August 12, 2023
Elsewhere on Saturday, storms brought high winds and hail to our west and south.
In a repost on X, formerly known as Twitter, the weather service’s Mount Holly office showed a photo of quarter-sized hail in Bucks County.
Quarter size hailstones were observed in upper Bucks County a short time ago https://t.co/4fSxKtLgpk
– NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) August 12, 2023
Much of northern and western Pennsylvania was also under a tornado watch Saturday afternoon and evening.
The severe weather threat comes on the penultimate day of Musikfest 2023. The festival was briefly suspended around 6:15 on Saturday as a storm passed nearby, but quickly resumed at 6:30.
Weather Update, 12/8, 6:13 p.m.: Festival activities have been temporarily suspended due to inclement weather in the area. Please seek shelter in your vehicles or a permanent structure. More updates to follow as they become available.
-Music Festival (@musicfestival) August 12, 2023
This year’s festival has largely escaped severe weather, except for strong storms Monday evening that forced its two-hour postponement. Those storms generated a tornado in the Midway Manor section of east Allentown.
The good news: Sunday looks good as the festival wraps up, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 85.
Here are the expanded forecasts:
Sunday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, it’s mostly sunny, with a high around 85 degrees. West winds range from 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A weak chance of rain and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 84 degrees. Winds will be calm, becoming southwesterly at about 5 mph in the afternoon. The probability of rain is 20%.
Monday night: There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 p.m. Low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph. The probability of rain is 80%. New rainfall amounts are likely between a half and three-quarters of an inch.
Tuesday: A chance of rain and thunderstorms before 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. A 30% chance of rain. New precipitation amounts range between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, with the exception of higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday night: Mostly clear, low around 63.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
Wednesday night: Mostly clear, low around 62.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Thursday night: Partly cloudy, low around 66.
Friday: It’s sunny most of the time, and the high temperature is near 87.
