LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — The Lehigh Valley is bracing for a major winter storm that could dump 12 to 18 inches of snow beginning early Sunday, prompting snow emergency declarations in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton and travel restrictions across the region.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning from 1 a.m. Sunday through 1 p.m. Monday, warning that heavy snow, blowing snow and dangerous travel conditions are likely. Forecasters say this could be one of the most significant snowstorms to hit the area in years.
With statewide impacts expected, Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a disaster declaration Friday, urging residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
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Snow emergencies and parking restrictions
Allentown Snow Emergency Routes
Allentown’s snow emergency begins at 11 a.m. Saturday. Parking is prohibited on designated snow emergency routes.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said city crews will begin plowing roads early Sunday, but warned that it could take multiple days to clear all streets. Police Chief Charles Roca urged residents to avoid driving on Sunday.
A full list of routes is available below and also on allentownparking.com.
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StreetFromToNorth 4th StGordon StChew StSouth 4th StHamilton StWalnut StSouth 4th StPriscilla StSusquehanna St6th StUnion StCity Line7th StUnion StCity LineSouth 8th StWalnut StUnion StSouth 8th StHarrison StSusquehanna St12th StGreen StTilghman St12th StHamilton StWalnut St15th StElm StMauch Chunk Rd17th StHamilton StTilghman StN 19th StLiberty StRoth Ave24th StHamilton StE Texas BlvdChew St4th StCity LineEmaus AveBradford StMack BlvdFront St / Fullerton AveNorth of City LineGordon StGordon StAmerican PkwyFront StHamilton StFront St4th StHamilton St12th St20th StE Hamilton StCarlisle StAubrey StHanover AveE Hamilton StCity LineIrving StHanover AveUnion BlvdLehigh StAuburn StS 12th StLiberty St17th St19th StOxford DrLehigh StSalisbury DrSt John StS 8th StLehigh StSusquehanna StS 4th StCity LineTilghman StFront St30th StUnion BlvdIrving StClub AveWalnut StS 4th StS 12th St
Allentown Snow Emergency Parking
Residents may park for free at the Allentown Government Deck starting at midnight on Friday. All vehicles must vacate APA parking decks by 6:00 PM on Tuesday, January 27.
Deck NameAddressFree Parking StartsGovernment Deck435 W Hamilton St12 AM Saturday (Fri night)ATC (Transportation Center)110 N 6th St8 PM SaturdayCommunity Deck13 S 6th St8 PM SaturdaySpiral Deck820 W Linden St8 PM SaturdayMaple Street Garage920 W Maple St8 PM SaturdayArtsWalk Deck612 W Linden St8 PM Saturday940 Deck940 W Linden St8 PM SaturdayStrata Symphony39 N 6th StNOT INCLUDED
Bethlehem Snow Emergency Routes
Bethlehem’s snow emergency takes effect at 6 p.m. Saturday. Vehicles must be removed from the posted side of snow emergency routes by that time. Cars left in violation may be towed.
NORTH EAST STREETSStreetBetweenClear on M/W/FClear on T/TH/S/SUE Broad StN New St – Stefko BlvdSouth/Even SideNorth/Odd SideCenter StFahy Bridge – Biery’s Bridge RdEast/Even SideWest/Odd SideE Union BlvdN New St – Maple StSouth/Even SideNorth/Odd SideN New StChurch St – Elizabeth AveEast/Even SideWest/Odd SideLinden StE Broad St – City LineEast/Even SideWest/Odd SideE Elizabeth AveN New St – Linden StSouth/Even SideNorth/Odd SidePembroke RdEdge St – Livingston StSouth/Even SideNorth/Odd SideMaple StE Union Blvd – E Goepp StEast/Even SideWest/Odd SideEaston AveE Elizabeth Ave – E Washington AveEast/Even SideWest/Odd SideE Goepp StMaple St – Edge StSouth/Even SideNorth/Odd Side
NORTH WEST STREETSStreetBetweenClear on M/W/FClear on T/TH/S/SUW Broad StN New St – Club AveNorth/Even SideSouth/Odd SideW Union BlvdN New St – Club AveNorth/Even SideSouth/Odd Side3rd AveW Broad St – W Union BlvdEast/Even SideWest/Odd Side8th AveSchoenersville Rd – W Lehigh StEast/Even SideWest/Odd SideSchoenersville RdWestgate Dr – Elizabeth AveEast/Even SideWest/Odd SideMain StW Church St – W Elizabeth AveEast/Even SideWest/Odd SideW Elizabeth AveMauch Chunk Rd – N New StNorth/Even SideSouth/Odd SideGuetter StW Broad St – W Walnut StEast/Even SideWest/Odd SideW Walnut StGuetter St – N New StNorth/Even SideSouth/Odd Side
SOUTH STREETSStreetBetweenClear on M/W/FClear on T/TH/S/SUWyandotte StHill-to-Hill Bridge – City LineWest/Even SideEast/Odd SideE & W 3rd StDelaware Ave – Hayes StSouth Side MountainNorth Side RiverE & W 4th StWyandotte St – William StSouth Side MountainNorth Side RiverS New St3rd St – 4th StWest/Even SideEast/Odd SideHayes StE 3rd St – Mountain DrWest/Even SideEast/Odd Side
Bethlehem Snow Emergency Parking
Free parking will be available at Bethlehem Parking Authority garages — North Street, New Street, Walnut Street, Riverport and Polk Street — beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday until four hours after the emergency is lifted.
Deck NameAddressFree Parking StartsNorth Street Garage75 W North St6 PM SaturdayNew Street Garage324 S New St6 PM SaturdayWalnut Street Garage33 W Walnut St6 PM SaturdayRiverport Garage11 W 2nd St6 PM SaturdayPolk Street Garage413 E 3rd St6 PM Saturday
Residents needing assistance can call 610-865-7115.
View Bethlehem’s routes and information on bethlehem-pa.gov
Easton
Easton’s snow emergency runs from 5 p.m. Saturday through noon Tuesday. Parking is prohibited on all designated snow emergency routes. Vehicles parked in violation may be ticketed or towed.
Residents living on snow emergency routes may park for free in the South Third Street Garage or North Fourth Street Garage starting at 5 p.m. Saturday. Those vehicles must leave by noon on Tuesday.
Dangerous travel conditions
State transportation officials warn that travel could become dangerous or impossible, with widespread closures likely. Snow, wind and bitter cold may also cause power outages.
All interstate highways, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and major roadways including Routes 22 and 33 will be under Tier 4 vehicle restrictions starting midnight Saturday, meaning commercial vehicles and several other vehicle types will be prohibited. Drivers can check 511pa.com for real-time updates.
The storm comes during an extended cold spell, with below-zero wind chills expected in the Lehigh Valley this weekend. Officials warn that extreme cold after the storm could lead to heating system failures and water main breaks.
Emergency officials continue to urge residents to stay off the roads, check on neighbors and prepare for prolonged hazardous conditions.
Isabel Hope is a journalist and website designer based in Bethlehem, PA. She graduated with a degree in journalism from The University of Alabama in 2022, where she served as News Editor of the student newspaper. Isabel has lived in the Lehigh Valley for three years and is passionate about reporting for the communities she now calls home.