A forecast that's wet, not white: A big thaw ahead, with temperatures nearing 60 later this week

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — There’s good news ahead for the Lehigh Valley, as temperatures are expected to get progressively warmer each day this week.

The National Weather Service said there will be “no additional replenishment of arctic air from Canada,” ensuring a steady warm-up not only in our area, but across the country.

It comes after winter storms this month claimed at least 67 lives around the United States, the Associated Press reported, with many deaths involving hypothermia or road accidents.

At least five of those deaths were in Pennsylvania.

State police say five women were struck and killed by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 81 last Tuesday after they left their vehicles following a separate crash on the slick roadway.

A winter weather advisory had been in effect at the time, with the weather service warning of hazardous road conditions.

A thaw is underway

From Jan. 14 to 21, the average temperature in the Allentown area was 21 degrees, according to preliminary climate data from the weather service.

The coldest day was Jan. 17, which saw a high of 21 and a low of 7 degrees — combining for a temperature 16 degrees below average for the date.

Despite the cold snap, the average monthly temperature sat at 30.3 degrees early Monday, just 0.1 of a degree below normal.

The weather service said daytime highs Monday afternoon were expected to crack the freezing mark for all but the Poconos, with temperatures reaching the mid- to upper 30s.

Tuesday morning is expected to bring high pressure off the coast, with a west to southwest flow developing over the region.

“This will help to further moderate temperatures,” the weather service said.

How warm will it get?

If you’re a snow lover, we hope you’ve enjoyed the 10.4 inches measured in the area so far this month.

It will be the last bit of wintry precipitation we’ll see in January, except for patchy chances of freezing rain late Tuesday night into early Wednesday for the Poconos and far northwestern New Jersey.

The icy mix should stay away from the Lehigh Valley, EPAWA meteorologist Bobby Martrich said in his latest video update.

“It's mainly the northern half of our region," Martrich said, showing a future simulated radar that depicted freezing rain spreading from north central Pennsylvania into the northern tier near Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre.

Spotty rain is expected Wednesday morning in our area before becoming more widespread late in the day, kicking off a three-day period of wet — not wintry — precipitation.

By Friday, high temperatures in the Lehigh Valley should be in the upper 50s to near 60 degrees.

“Quite the change, though big swings are par for the course in January, which typically sees the biggest temp swings of any month of the year on average,” the weather service said.