Severe storms could pummel Lehigh Valley on Friday, with heat wave arriving next week

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Heat and humidity will build for the afternoon, heightening a severe weather risk for the Lehigh Valley on Friday, forecasters say.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed the area at a slight risk (2 out of 5) for storms that will be capable of producing damaging winds and large hail.

Any rain associated with the storms will be much needed, EPAWA meteorologist Bobby Martrich said in his latest video forecast.

“It’s going to be the only rain we see in this upcoming week,” Martrich said, previewing a hot and dry outlook for the entire region.

Friday’s setup

The National Weather Service said Friday will start off rather tranquil before thunderstorms arrive for the second half of the day.

“Ample instability is forecast to be in the 80s, with even some lower 90s and dew points in the 60s,” the NWS forecast discussion said.

With those ingredients in place, storms are forecast to develop to the northwest and west, moving east and southeastward along and ahead of a cold front.

“While coverage and timing does vary some among the guidance suite, convection should organize into a few clusters or a broken line as it shifts into and across our area, with this possibly weakening near and especially south and east of I-95,”the forecast discussion said.

Locally damaging winds will be the main severe threat, with downdraft/downburst potential.

Downbursts are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground.

They likely were responsible for snapping trees during storms that hit the area on May 23.

High rainfall rates could occur with the strongest storms, the weather service said, but the flash flooding risk looks to be low overall as storms should be on the move.

Dangerous heat to arrive

While the weekend should be very comfortable with plenty of sunshine, a heat wave is gearing up to smother the region next week with temperatures and humidity levels on the rise.

Temperatures potentially will get warmer each day, the weather service said, touching the low 90s on Monday and widespread highs in the 90s Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Summer set to arrive with a vengeance: Here's where and how to cool off in the Lehigh Valley

Environment & Science

Stephanie Sigafoos

,

The Climate Prediction Center said a moderate risk of excessive heat is expected to last through at least June 21.

Antecedent dryness combined with the hot temperatures will also increase the risk for rapid onset drought across portions of the region.