A cold front is targeting the Lehigh Valley, but will it bring frost?

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – If you recently turned your heat off for the season, you may want to re-think that decision based on the latest Lehigh Valley forecast.

Temperatures overnight Wednesday into Thursday could dip into the mid 30s, forecasters say.

“A trough is settling into the region over the next couple of days,” EPAWA meteorologist Bobby Martrich said in his latest video forecast.

• Daytime highs on Wednesday are expected to be almost 20 degrees cooler than Tuesday
• Overnight lows into Thursday will fall in to the 30s, forecasters warn
• A freeze watch has been issued for Carbon and Monroe counties, and folks in the Lehigh Valley are warned to protect sensitive vegetation

“Although we’re not getting the full brunt of this … the full brunt is going to be up across New England,” he said, while calling the expected temperatures “notably cooler” than we’ve had so far this week.

Daytime highs are expected to favor the 60s, after hitting 79 degrees on Tuesday.

While some readings in the lower 70s are expected well south of the region, temperatures should not get above the 50s in the elevated terrain of the Poconos.

“You’ll have to go pretty far south to get to the 70s today,” Martrich said. “There is going to be a bit of a wind component to this. We’re looking at winds 10 to 15 mph, gusting 20 to 25 mph for most areas during the daylight hours.”

With dry conditions, there is an elevated risk for the spread of wildfires in the region.

Then, we shift to a rather chilly evening.

“The big story overnight is going to be temperatures that are going to be going down pretty low,” Martrich said.

The National Weather Service says the overnight minimum temperatures are forecast to be in the 30s and 40s, and readings should drop to or just below freezing in parts of the Poconos.

A freeze watch has been issued for Carbon and Monroe counties, and for Sussex County in New Jersey.

“The air mass is quite dry and a light wind may linger through much of the night to preclude the development of any widespread frost in the other areas that will fall into the 30s,” the weather service forecast discussion said.

That includes the Lehigh Valley, where overnight lows look to be in the mid to upper 30s.

But Martrich put out a warning to folks in the area.

“You’re going to want to protect any tender vegetation you have,” he said. “Tender vegetation, flowers, whatever. Cover them.”