Surprise! Fast-moving winter storm unexpectedly clobbers part of Lehigh Valley with a foot of snow; winter storm warning through this morning [Update]

Snow blankets North Seventh Street in downtown Allentown near Center Square early Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.

Part of the Lehigh Valley got more than it bargained for with the latest winter storm that swept through the area Friday night into Saturday, a storm that had been forecast to only deliver several inches of snow.

Instead, a narrow band of intense, heavy snow parked itself over the southern portion of the Valley overnight, dumping a foot of snow or more in some areas.

The highest totals were reported just south of Allentown. As of 5 a..m., National Weather Service trained spotters reported just under 14 inches in both Macungie and Center Valley in Lehigh County. In Northampton County, Hellertown received just under a foot.

The snow fell over a very short period, and one meteorologist on X (formerly known as Twitter) reported an incredible snowfall rate of 5 inches in one hour near Hellertown. Other meteorologists noted that the storm produced the highest snowfall rates in years for our region.

Areas to the north and south of that heavy band saw substantially less snow. As of 7 a.m., only about 4.5 inches of snow had fallen in Whitehall Township, according to a post on X by Eastern Pennsylvania Weather Authority meteorologist Bobby Martrich.

The intense snowfall prompted the weather service to upgrade the area to a winter storm warning for the Lehigh Valley, upper Bucks County and western Montgomery County. The warning continues until 10 a.m. with an additional inch or two possible.

Regardless of where you were, the snow that blanketed the region created slippery travel conditions.

The storm was more predictable in terms of timing, with snow beginning to fall as expected by 11 p.m. Friday. With temperatures in some areas just above freezing, the snow did not stick everywhere at first. As temperatures dropped and the snow became heavier, it quickly started accumulating, even on treated roads.

Soon after, PennDOT reduced speed limits to 45 mph on the area’s major highways, including Interstates 78, 80, 81, 380, Route 22 and Route 33. Officials encouraged motorists to avoid travel unless necessary.

The snowy conditions led to multiple disabled vehicles and fender benders around the region.

Around 1:20 a.m. Saturday, several crashes and disabled vehicles were reported on I-78 westbound in Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, according to emergency radio dispatches. A short time later, a crash was reported on Route 309 south of Mosserville Road in Lynn Township, Lehigh County.

The snow was expected to continue through midmorning before wrapping up.

Even after the storm had started, forecasters were only expecting 4-5 inches at most for the Lehigh Valley, with higher amounts in the Philadelphia region to our south.

The latest snow comes from a clipper system that jogged across the country, with help from cold air that moved into the region after a cold front passed through Thursday night, according to the weather service.

Although most of the snow was expected to wrap up by midmorning, additional snow showers could linger throughout the day Saturday, according to the forecast discussion. Clouds will eventually give way to mostly sunny skies, with highs in the upper 30s.

The most recent storm delivered just as much, if not more than what had been the biggest snowstorm of the season so far earlier this week. That storm brought up to a foot of snow to some areas of the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. Lehigh Valley International Airport recorded 9.1 inches of snow from that storm alone.

Outside of Saturday, there is no snow in the immediate forecast. The weather service said another storm is possible next Friday, but it likely will be rain.

Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 40s next week.

Here is the extended forecast from the National Weather Service:

Saturday: Snow likely before 10 a.m., then a chance of snow showers between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The snow could be heavy at times. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Light and variable wind becoming west 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 41.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Thursday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 50%

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