Parts of the Lehigh Valley and northwest Jersey could receive light freezing rain forecast Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, which could cause a dangerous layer of ice.
The National Weather Service has already issued a winter weather advisory, which will affect some counties surrounding Warren County in New Jersey. Several hundredths of an inch of ice could accumulate in those counties and roads are expected to be slippery, making commutes difficult Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, the advisory states said.
Although there is no warning for northern Warren County, light freezing rain is still possible there, the weather service said in discussing its morning forecast. As for Lehigh Valley International Airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, occasional rain is expected to begin Tuesday evening, followed by freezing rain before 4 a.m. Wednesday, according to the weather service. The low temperature is expected to reach around 32 degrees.
Forecasters say things will then get tough by Wednesday morning.
The weather service says motorists will encounter anything from occasional rain to a possible mix if freezing rain falls after 5 a.m. and then full rain after 8 a.m. Precipitation is 80% with little to no ice or snow accumulation expected.
High temperatures on Wednesday are expected to reach nearly 41 degrees, with southeast winds around 5 mph, the weather service said. Precipitation is 80% with little to no snow expected.
More rain is expected Wednesday evening, with a 90% chance of rain in the Lehigh Valley. The low temperature is expected to reach 39 degrees, with east winds around 5 mph becoming calm. The weather service says new rainfall amounts could range from a quarter to a half inch.
More rain is expected on a milder Thursday with the mercury reaching the low 50s. The chance of rain remains at 90%, with new amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch possible. On Friday, high temperatures could reach around 56 degrees under cloudy skies with the possibility of more rain.
The meteorological services expected more rain before 1pm on Friday, with a 30% chance of rain.
Early indications are that Saturday will be the best of the two days of the weekend with some sun and highs near 50 degrees. The weather service says rain is likely on a cloudy Sunday with temperatures rising into the low 40s.
