Temperatures in the 80s are expected several days this week, marking the warmest weather so far this year in the Lehigh Valley..
Highs are predicted to be in the upper 70s Monday, followed by the 80s through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Temperatures could reach into the 90s south of the region, in Philadelphia, forecasters said.
Some highs could be close to record temperatures this week in the Lehigh Valley. The record high for the Allentown area is 88 for April 14, set in 2023; 84 for April 15, set in 1941 and 1994; and 90 for April 16, set in 2012, according to weather service data. As of Sunday, highs for those days — Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday — are predicted to be 83, 86 and 86, respectively.
Outside of the warmer weather, there is a slight chance of rain Monday night, Tuesday night and Wednesday night.
“The bulk of the period will be high and dry however, and no area has higher than a 40% chance of rain any given day,” meteorologists wrote Sunday in their daily forecast discussion. “This is not good news for the ongoing drought and things are expected to get worse.”
Lehigh and Northampton counties are under drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. All of Lehigh County and most of Northampton County has severe drought conditions. Both counties have had about 4 inches below normal rainfall over the last six months, according to weather service data.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has placed Lehigh County under a drought warning. Northampton County is under a drought watch.
Monday: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.