Environment & Science

A mother bear and her cubs are nestled under the deck of a Pike County home, and you can peek in on them 24/7. The camera is expected to be up until late March or early April, when the bears leave the den.

Based on history alone, fans of winter should be optimistic. But El Niño doesn't just affect one season, and scientists warn its possible return is a major cause for concern. Here's what we know so far.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection lifted a drought watch for five counties, including Northampton County.

The rule was published earlier this month and applies to all 3,117 water systems. Both chemicals belong to the group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS, which are used in products such as nonstick cookware, carpets, firefighting foam and fast-food wrappers.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 4 p.m. Wednesday, with snow coming down in a predicted burst across much of the Lehigh Valley.

The Palmer Township supervisors rejected a proposal for a 185,000-square-foot manufacturing center near a housing development in the northern end of the township.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's comprehensive planning committee gave preliminary approval for a warehouse development in Upper Saucon Township and a recycling plant in Plainfield Township.

A storm system is forecast to approach the Lehigh Valley on Wednesday and bring with it a variety of wintry hazards, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a winter weather advisory.

A complex storm system is taking aim at the Lehigh Valley on Wednesday, and the midweek event could bring an extended period of snow to the area. But forecasters caution the "warm nose" of the storm could spoil the event for some.

With all the precipitation that's fallen — 5.86 inches since Dec. 1 — we could've been buried under 58+ inches of snow so far this winter. But those storm systems haven't had much cold air to interact with, and it's made all the difference.

Rain, strong winds and a severe weather threat have caused organizers of Bethlehem's Cherry Blossom Festival to postpone the event to Sunday.

Lehigh Valley residents might see low-flying planes over Blue Mountain through April 7 as efforts continue to remediate the Palmerton zinc pile superfund site.

Signs of spring are popping open around the Lehigh Valley, which means allergy season is here. The mild winter may play a role in how early and severe those allergies are.

Rodale Institute's board of directors announced Jeff Tkach, 43, of Lower Macungie Township, will serve as the nonprofit's new CEO. He'll take the helm of the Kutztown-based organic farming research and education organization starting April 21.

A chemical spill of a latex product late Friday in Bristol Township released contaminants into a Delaware River tributary, according to OEM officials.

The Lehigh Valley Zoo has three new African penguins, bringing its total colony to 14. As part of a species survival plan, zoo officials hope the birds will pair off a reproduce to bolster the endangered species.

Pennsylvania will again operate a water assistance program for low-income households behind in their water or wastewater bills, state officials announced last week.

With the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and federal Environmental Protection Agency at odds over the acceptable levels of 'forever chemicals' in public drinking water, it’s become an expensive and frustrating process for at least one Lehigh Valley municipality.

Spring arrives at 5:24 p.m. Monday and it will certainly feel like it for the first few days of the week, meteorologists say, with widespread sunshine and blue skies on tap.

A wind advisory is in effect until midnight for areas mainly near and south of the Interstate 78 corridor, where the weather service expects gusts of 40 to 50 mph by Tuesday afternoon, with potential for a few localized higher gusts.

On the anniversary of the Blizzard of '93, forecasters say a complex coastal storm will develop on Monday, shifting from the Mid-Atlantic north into New England and dropping heavy snow just north of the Lehigh Valley.

The mother bear and her cubs, nestled cozily in their den, were discovered by the homeowner towards the end of December or beginning of January.