ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The start of the year has turned into a snow globe for the Lehigh Valley, with the area recording its snowiest January in a decade as winter continues to grip the region.
Month-to-date snowfall in the Allentown area now stands at 20.8 inches, nearly triple the normal January average of 7.7 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
The surge in snow has pushed the area's season-to-date (since Dec. 1) total to 28.3 inches, far exceeding the typical 12.3 inches for this point in the winter.
One more snow stat... For Allentown, Reading, Trenton and Wilmington, this January is the snowiest January in 10 years (since 2016).
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) January 27, 2026
How we got here
The latest boost to those totals came from a powerful winter storm over the weekend that blanketed much of the Lehigh Valley with more than a foot of snow in some locations.
Roads were treacherous, flights at Lehigh Valley International Airport were disrupted, and crews worked around the clock to clear streets and sidewalks as the storm wrapped up late Sunday night.
Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio said three deaths reported Sunday are being attributed to snow shoveling and snow removal activity.
According to Buglio, the individuals ranged in age from 60 to 84 years old and were reportedly engaged in shoveling snow or clearing snow prior to experiencing a medical emergency.
There now have been four weather-related deaths in the county this winter.
A 93-year-old Lower Macungie Township woman died outside her home of hypothermia last week. She was Lehigh County's first weather-related fatality of 2026.
More to come?
While the snow has stopped — for now — winter is far from letting up.
A cold weather advisory remains in effect, with no changes to the forecast calling for very cold temperatures to dominate the region over the next week.
Forecasters warn that the persistent cold could refreeze untreated surfaces, creating ongoing travel hazards.
Here is the latest information regarding a potentially significant coastal storm this weekend. Chances have increased for impactful snow and/or wind along the immediate East Coast, but uncertainty remains rather high with respect to details. Be sure to keep checking for updates! pic.twitter.com/5IOlxPVeJh
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 27, 2026
Looking ahead, meteorologists also are monitoring the potential for another storm system this weekend.
While confidence remains low regarding exact timing and impacts, there are growing concerns that a coastal storm could track close enough to the region to bring at least some impacts to parts of eastern Pennsylvania.
For now, residents are being urged to prepare for prolonged cold, stay weather-aware, and keep an eye on forecasts as the Lehigh Valley’s most wintry January in years continues to unfold.
