First things first.
There’s a freezing rain advisory for 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday.
It includes Northampton and Warren counties, but not Lehigh County.
Bobby Martrich from Eastern PA Weather Authority doesn’t like to doubt when it comes to the National Weather Service warning about ice. Because if he’s wrong, it means people are driving — and crashing — on dangerous roads.
But, more likely than not, freezing rain will fall closer to Monroe and Sussex counties, depending on which side of the Delaware River you’re staring your commute, he said.
So, basically, watch the advisories and be careful. The weather service forecast puts the low just below freezing at Lehigh Valley International Airport. With a tenth of an inch of precipitation. So, yeah, ice is possible.
The temperature should rise during the day and the threat should pass, the weather service says. And when it tops out at a rainy 50, well, the ice — if there is ice — should be long forgotten.
But the real worry is Wednesday night into Thursday. Or not.
Martrich’s weather business covers from Delaware to Williamsport. Somewhere in those 150 or so miles should get 4 to 8 inches of snow, he said.
“It’s entirely possible the Lehigh Valley sees nothing at all,” Martrich said, adding the the weather models each highlight a different part of the region for the heaviest snow. “Or it could end up being the jackpot winner. So somewhere in between.”
All he’s telling his paying customers at this point is to be aware that something’s in the pipeline.
Another 24 hours could bring clarity, he said.
“Somebody is going to get hit,” he said. “… It’s just a matter of where. There will be a lot of back and forth over the next 24 hours. The models are guessing — they don’t have a clue.”
A cold front will come through, but Wednesday’s forecast high of 53 wouldn’t immediately crumble, he said. By 7 a.m. Thursday, however, the temperature will have fallen to 26, the weather service said.
“It’s a matter of what time that precipitation arrives,” he said.
As rain becomes snow, it’s going to be a problem. Somewhere in eastern Pennsylvania of Delaware.
“Every model has something,” he said.
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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