BETHLEHEM, Pa — Strong winds sweeping through the Lehigh Valley early Friday already were knocking out power to thousands of residents.
Outages are expected to climb as a powerful cold front moves through the region.
Just after 6 a.m., at least 2,821 PPL customers were without electricity in Lehigh County and 1,853 in Northampton County, according to utility outage reports.
About 15 Met-Ed customerswere out in Northampton County.
Forecasters warned conditions could worsen later in the day as winds shift and intensify.
On the social media platform X, Trooper Nathan Branosky, public information officer for Bethlehem's Troop M, warned Troopers were responding to trees blocking roads around the area.
Be sure to drive carefully for this morning’s commute, Troopers are responding to trees blocking the road throughout the area, including South 5 Street, Upper Milford Twp., Lehigh Co. @69News @mcall @lehighvalley @LVNewsdotcom pic.twitter.com/KfntBSHIOV
— Trooper Branosky (@PSPTroopMPIO) December 19, 2025
Area under wind advisory
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the Lehigh Valley through 1 a.m. Saturday. Southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching 45 mph, are expected through the morning hours Friday.
After a brief lull late in the morning, winds are forecast to turn northwest behind a strong cold front this afternoon, with gusts potentially reaching 50 mph.
Such winds can easily bring down tree limbs and power lines, particularly in areas with saturated ground or weakened trees from recent weather events.
PPL Electric said Thursday on social media its utility crews across the region stood ready to respond as conditions deteriorated.
Residents are urged to secure loose outdoor items, avoid downed power lines, and prepare for the possibility of extended power disruptions.
That's especially true as temperatures drop behind the front later Friday and into the overnight hours.
The advisory remains in effect until early Saturday, when winds are expected to gradually subside.
Period of concern
A time frame of heightened concern will come between 8 to 11 a.m., the weather service said in its latest forecast discussion.
“This will be the period to watch for damaging wind gusts upwards of 60 mph as strong downdrafts could bring winds from the brisk low-level jet down to the surface,” the discussion said.
The Storm Prediction Center has the area at a marginal risk of severe weather (1 out of 5), with damaging wind gusts being the main threat.
The weather service said the severe threat should quickly wind down, but winds behind the front will ramp back up, this time out of the west/northwest.
“This will bring a period of 20 to 30 mph sustained winds and gusts 35 to 45 mph, up to 50 mph from the early afternoon until late evening,” the discussion said.
“The wind advisory goes until 1 a.m., but may be able to be cancelled early depending on how quickly things taper off.”
