The National Weather Service predicts spotty showers in the Lehigh Valley Saturday, with chances of rain diminishing and temperatures peaking in the upper 70s as the dinner hour approaches. There could be an isolated thunderstorm during the afternoon.
The precipitation will be enough to be irritating, but it will do little to erase the three-inch rainfall deficit the area has experienced since the beginning of the year.
Sunday looks to be dry but cloudy, with a high in the mid 80s. There is a slight chance of an isolated afternoon thunderstorm
That will be the lowest high of the week as heat builds to a possible high of 101 Thursday with a heat index as high as 110. As oppressive as that will be, it will not break the temperature record of 102 on July 2, 1966, or the July 3 record of 105 set the same year.
The low temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday nights will be in the mid 70s, making for an oppressive stretch of hot weather.
The hottest July 4 on record in the Lehigh Valley was 102 degrees in 1949. The weather service has not yet published its July 4 forecast.
Here is a look at this week’s forecast:
Saturday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a 10th of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 84 and a low around 66 Sunday night. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88 and a low around 67. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89 and a low around 72.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97 and a low around 76.
Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101 and a low around 76.
Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.