The Lehigh Valley is firmly in fall. The National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey, has issued a freeze warning for early Sunday morning for a region that includes Lehigh and Northampton counties.
The weather service said temperatures as low as 32 degrees are expected from 1 to 9 a.m. Besides the Lehigh Valley, the area under the warning includes Berks, Upper Bucks, western Chester and western Montgomery counties; along with Morris, Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey.
Impacts include frost and freeze conditions that could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and potentially damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
“Tonight, temperatures drop into the 30s throughout, with lows down to or below freezing for the southern Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and far northwest New Jersey,” the NWS said in its forecast discussion. “The Freeze Watches that were in effect for tonight were upgraded to Freeze Warnings.”
During the day Saturday, it is expected to be cool and breezy with a high of 51.
The sun will be out Sunday to melt away the frost with a high of 59.
“High temperatures on Sunday will then only be in the 50s for the entire region despite mostly sunny skies,” the NWS said. “While another night of temperatures below freezing is not expected, conditions will once again potentially favor the development of some frost, mainly confined to the Lehigh Valley, Poconos and northern New Jersey.
“Lows are expected to be several degrees warmer than Saturday night mainly in the mid to upper 30s.”
The cooldown won’t last too long, as daytime highs during the week will be in the mid 60s. Tuesday will be slightly warmer with a high of around 68 expected.
Here is the extended forecast from the National Weather Service:
Sunday night: Clear with a low around 36 and a calm wind.
Monday: Sunny with a high near 63.
Monday night: Partly cloudy with a low around 42.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high near 68.
Tuesday night: Mostly clear, low around 44.
Wednesday: Sunny, high near 65.
Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, low around 41.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 64.
Thursday night: Partly cloudy, low around 45.
Friday: Mostly sunny, high near 66.