BETHLEHEM, Pa. —Musikfest's Festplatz stage will hold opening ceremonies Friday for the festival's 40th year.
But there appears to be an uninvited guest ready to crash the party.
- The Lehigh Valley is under a severe weather threat Friday
- Storms could roll through the region just as Musikfest's opening ceremonies are kicking off
- Festival-goers should check for weather updates on social media and on the Musikfest app
Mother Nature has cooked up an unfavorable forecast, and it could rudely interrupt the pageantry and fun as officials and longtime business supporters officially declare Musikfest 2023 open.
The ceremonies, scheduled for 5:30 p.m., also are set to feature a performance by Alana Mars. But the timeframe could be problematic.
Severe weather threat
The Storm Prediction Center has expanded the marginal risk area for severe weather across eastern Pennsylvania and into New Jersey, taking it right down through the Interstate 95 corridor.
For many areas, isolated severe storms will be possible by the late afternoon into the early evening, according to the National Weather Service, with damaging winds being the main threat.
These same areas also are expected to see a threat for heavy rainfall, the NWS forecast discussion said, with a marginal risk for excessive rain leading to localized flash flooding.
“By early this evening, there should be storms ongoing across eastern PA into northern NJ,” the discussion said. “The main question becomes just how far south they make it and how strong they will be.”
Forecasters said indications are the storms should be weakening as they reach near and especially southeast of the I-95 corridor, but the Lehigh Valley could be in the bullseye for unfavorable conditions.
EPAWA Weather Consulting is the official forecaster for Musikfest, and meteorologist Bobby Martrich said earlier in the week the pattern favored these “fast-moving frontal systems” moving through at various points during the 10-day festival.
More on timing
“Generally speaking, we’re looking at the best chances for showers and thunderstorms between the 5 to 9 p.m. hours in the Lehigh Valley,” a meteorologist at the NWS forecast office in Mount Holly said early Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Martrich said on Twitter that his morning forecast briefing to ArtsQuest was targeting a 7-10 p.m. window of opportunity for storms, but he said that entire window would not be wet and stormy.
"Should be a quick in-and-out deal IMO [in my opinion] and hopefully dances right around Bethlehem this evening. I'll be on site monitoring," he said.
Walk the Moon is set to headline the Steel Stage at 7 p.m.
⛈️ There is a risk for thunderstorms later today becoming strong to severe. These may produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall leading to localized flash flooding. The greatest risk for severe storms and heavy rainfall is northwest of the I-95 Corridor. #PAwx #NJwx #MDwx #DEwx pic.twitter.com/XZMJhByjDB
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) August 4, 2023
Festival-goers are encouraged to download the Musikfest app or check social media for updates if things are shut down as storms move through.
“Every situation is unique to itself, but it’s a collaborative effort,” ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan said earlier this week.
“Bobby is a phenomenal advisor to the process," Brogan said. "ArtsQuest is an advisor to the process. We make [a decision] in tandem with city and county officials — emergency response officials. The Northampton County Emergency Team is an integral part of that.
“The forecast changes minute-by-minute in this Valley that we’re in, and safety is our number one priority, obviously.”
