A severe thunderstorm warning for a large swath of the СŷƵ and Poconos on Tuesday evening has expired.
The warning was in effect until 9 p.m. for all of Lehigh, Carbon and Monroe counties, as well as northwestern Northampton and northern Berks County, .
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Allentown PA, Northampton PA and East Stroudsburg PA until 9:00 PM EDT
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly)
In an update just before 9 p.m., the weather service said the storms that prompted the warning had “weakened below severe limits” and “no longer pose an immediate threat to life or property,” and the warning was allowed to expire.
The warning was issued around 8:30 p.m., prompted by a line of storms that extended from Sweet Valley, Luzerne County, to Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, according to the weather service. The storms were capable of producing 60 mph wind gusts, along with damage to roofs, siding, trees and power lines, the weather service warned.
Locations that were expected to be impacted by the storms included: Lehighton, Neffs, Pocono Pines, Coffeetown, Skytop, Bath, Strausstown, Parryville, North Catasauqua, Ancient Oaks, Sun Valley, Reeders, Chapman, Slatington, Shoemakersville, Jim Thorpe, Beltzville State Park, McMichael, Canadensis and Blakeslee.
Major highways that were in the warned area included:
- Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension I-476 between mile markers 54 and 97
- Interstate 78 near mile marker 8, and between mile markers 10 and 57
- Interstate 80 between mile markers 277 and 314
- Interstate 380 between mile markers 0 and 13
Showers and thunderstorms were expected to continue across the region through early Wednesday morning as a cold front moved through the area, according to the weather service forecast.
The front follows another unseasonably warm day, with high temperatures in the low 80s on Tuesday. After it moves through, high temperatures Wednesday will be lower, in the mid-70s, according to the forecast.
Here is the extended weather service forecast for the СŷƵ:
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Northwest wind around 15 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8am, then showers likely between 8am and 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
