BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Lehigh and Northampton counties starting Thursday afternoon.
According to an NWS briefing, severe storms and flash flooding could hit the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas after 2 p.m. Thursday.
Showers and thunderstorms with excessive rainfall could lead to flash flooding of urbanized areas, small streams and creeks, and flooding could result in road closures, the NWS reported.
At 5 p.m. Wednesday, the NWS updated their report, showing rainfall rates could exceed 2 inches per hour, with amounts from 2 to 4 inches expected, and localized amounts potentially reaching over 6 inches.
Portions of the Lehigh Valley, including Allentown, have been designated as moderate risk areas for flash floods, indicating flooding is likely.
A flood watch will be in effect from Thursday afternoon into the night.
Severe thunderstorms remain a risk, though most of the Lehigh Valley falls outside the marginal risk designation zone.
According to information from NWS’s Philadelphia/Mount Holly office, the majority of the Lehigh Valley shows a slight probability of excessive rainfall leading to flash flooding — indicating scattered flash floods are possible.
However, the exact location of the greatest threat for flooding will depend on the placement and timing of a frontal boundary, the NWS states.
Additional advisories for severe thunderstorms with damaging winds which could result in tree damage and power outages also have been issued for Wednesday afternoon and evening, and for Thursday afternoon and evening.
This report is developing and will be updated with NWS data as it becomes available.
