Environment & Science

Spring wildfire season runs from March through May across the commonwealth. State officials are urging residents to do their part to prevent wildfires.

Despite a warm surge this week, forecasters say it’s going to feel more like winter in the Lehigh Valley as we head towards the official first day of spring.

It’s expected to be a busy day for power crews in the Lehigh Valley with a wind advisory in place until 8 p.m., northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 55 mph. Met-Ed and PPL Electric Utilities were reporting scattered outages.

The 120-acre park in Northampton County boasts more than 100 species of trees and shrubs from around the world. "What's unique is it's in a public park setting. It's run by county park staff, not a nonprofit or not a for-profit entity,” the superintendent said.

The clocks went forward, but the weather turned back a season on Sunday as blinding snow squalls pushed through the Lehigh Valley. A wind advisory remains in effect Monday.

Brad Klein reviews the week’s astronomical highlights with Bethlehem’s "Backyard Astronomy Guy," Marty McGuire.

Dozens of students from across Pennsylvania will descend on Saucon Valley Middle School’s gymnasium for FIRST Tech Challenge’s robotics state championship, including two teams from the Lehigh Valley.

Pennsylvania’s maple sugaring season is well underway. At the Monroe County Conservation District’s Singing Hemlock Sugar Shack, educators guided visitors through the history of maple syrup production.

A flood watch remains in effect from 1 p.m. Saturday through Sunday evening for a large swath of the region, including Lehigh and Northampton counties.

Forecasters say a weekend storm will not only bring active weather, windy conditions Sunday and Monday are likely to bring isolated instances of tree damage and power outages to the Lehigh Valley.

Associated with an unusually strong geomagnetic storm, the northern lights were visible across our area Thursday night, even before the best viewing window advertised by the National Weather Service.

The Lehigh Valley is about to experience “a decidedly early November-like day,” according to the National Weather Service. A frost advisory has been issued from midnight to 9 a.m. Friday.

Hurricane Milton is expected to heavily disrupt air travel, including flights from Lehigh Valley International Airport to numerous destinations in Florida.

Da Vinci Science Center's newest exhibit, “Sharks,” will open Oct. 12. The display, organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, will offer "an up-close and personal look at one of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures — offering a jaw-dropping experience for visitors of all ages."

Short-term outlooks suggest a cold front will make steady progress across the area Monday, with a reinforcing cold front to follow later this week. It could push overnight temperatures into the 30s for the first time since late April.

Ian Fetterman, of Palmer Township, has taken his passion for Halloween and combined it with his artistic talents, carving out his own niche. Now, Ian’s Pumpkin Carvings has customers all over the U.S.

This week, our inner solar system has a visitor. It’s been visible through telescopes since its discovery last year by observers in China and South Africa.

Three proposed warehouse projects are on hold in Lowhill Township, the board of supervisors said at a meeting on Tuesday night. Two of the projects are in litigation; the third will be discussed at a hearing before the supervisors in November.

The regional wastewater plan is still underway in Lehigh County, as the sewer authority deals with aging infrastructure. Five open houses have been scheduled to collect residents' feedback.

After Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in the south leaving many without power, PPL Electric Utilities announced linemen have taken to the South to assist with restoration efforts.

As special operations team coordinator for Lehigh County, Kevin Krotzer served as the lead instructor Tuesday for “Water Rescue for the First Responder,” an awareness-level program developed and certified through the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Local Red Cross volunteers are in Florida helping with Hurricane Helene relief efforts. The Lehigh Valley chapter's executive director says this one is different than other storm system cleanups he's witnessed.