Snow arrived in the Lehigh Valley on Sunday morning, with a lot more on the way from a massive winter storm impacting much of the East Coast.
Several inches of snow had already fallen as of daybreak. A total of 8 to 12 inches of snow is expected through Monday evening, ending with a mix of sleet and ice that could complicate clean up.
The snow is expected to fall at the rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour throughout the day Sunday. A winter storm warning remains effect until 1 p.m. Monday.
By 7 a.m., 2 inches of snow was reported at Lehigh Valley international Airport. In Berks County, about 3 inches of snow as reported at Reading Regional Airport.
Precipitation is expected to remain mostly snow in the Lehigh Valley, but sleet and ice are possible all the way to the Interstate 80 corridor starting this afternoon or evening, according to the National Weather Service.
The forecast challenge continues to be the evolution of this warm layer aloft and thus the changing precipitation types,” forecasters said Sunday morning. “This timing will significantly determine how much snow accumulates prior to any mixing or changeover.”
Expected snowfall totals were nudged up slightly for the area, by around an inch in most places, though largely the forecast is holding, the weather service noted Sunday morning in its forecast discussion.
Multiple Lehigh Valley municipalities declared snow emergencies. Most grocery stores and other businesses, including the state’s liquor stores, have announced that they will be closed Sunday.
PennDOT has reduced speeds on highways and banned commercial trucks from interstates during the storm. LANTA, the Lehigh Valley’s mass transit agency, cancelled all services for Sunday. LANTA said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide an update regarding Monday service.
Both Lehigh County and Northampton County emergency management have issued warnings to residents of the Lehigh Valley, warning them not to take risks by engaging in unnecessary travel.
Northampton County has emergency warming shelters at the Bethlehem Emergency Shelter at 75 E. Market St., Bethlehem and the Safe Harbor Shelter at 536 Bushkill Drive, Easton.
The precipitation is expected to begin tapering off Sunday night. After the expected shift to sleet and freezing rain, the precipitation could shift back to light snow early Monday morning before the storm moves out. Winds will pick up later Sunday, which could lead to blowing snow, forecasters said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.