BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Nothing will showcase October as a month of transition quite like the next 24 hours, forecasters say.
After a summerlike day on Sunday, experts say temperatures are about to take a dive as a much colder pattern settles in.
“We have some big changes coming in, at least for part of the week,” EPAWA meteorologist Bobby Martrich said in his latest video update.
Highs pushed near 80 in the Allentown area Sunday afternoon, topping out at 79 degrees at 3:36 p.m.
It was six degrees shy of a record high for the date, but 12 degrees above normal. It also beat last year’s high on the same date by 15 degrees.
Things will change in a big way as a strong cold front punches through the region Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
“Northwest winds will increase to 15 to 20 mph, with 25 to 35 mph wind gusts this afternoon,” the latest forecast discussion said.
Martrich said 54 to 64 degrees will be the temperature spread across the region Monday — about 15 degrees colder than Sunday.
“We’re going to have some windy conditions, most notably [Monday] morning,” Martrich said.
“By the time we get to the afternoon, it’s just going to be breezy.”
Downward trajectory, then beautiful weekend
Martrich said Tuesday and Wednesday should be partly cloudy, but temperatures are going to be even cooler than Monday.
According to the weather service, a notable breeze will return during the day Tuesday before diminishing at night.
“Temperatures during the day look to not warm above the 50s for most of the area, then drop back into the 30s for many areas at night,” the forecast discussion said.
While some frost may occur overnight and closer to daybreak Wednesday, the extent of it will depend on the wind, which could limit frost formation.
It will remain chilly Wednesday and Thursday, before a warming trend begins Friday and temperatures really begin to moderate.
Saturday and Sunday could see temperatures push back into the 70s under mostly sunny skies, the weather service said.
