If you were looking for a catch to all this record-breaking warm February weather, Saturday’s storms may be it.
A line of potentially strong thunderstorms bringing strong wind will sweep through on a cold front from the west between 2 and 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
For the Lehigh Valley, the most likely window of severe weather is in the late afternoon, weather service meteorologist Mitchell Gaines said. However, he said any event should be “fairly quick-hitting,” lasting no more than an hour.
Valley just had its warmest Feb. day on record
“While a thunderstorm is a rare event during February, these storms may bring a fair amount of lightning strikes, in addition to the downpours and gusty winds,” AccuWeather meteorologist Bill Deger said in a separate forecast.
AccuWeather is cautioning travelers to watch for quickly changing visibilities as the storms proceed east. Heavy rain could cause localized flooding, while hail and wind could cause some property damage.
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The possibility of a tornado can’t be ruled out. AccuWeather said storms may be strong enough to produce “a few tornadoes” in northern Maryland, eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Gaines, with the National Weather Service, said that while possible, a tornado would be a rare event — one may occur in a 300- to 400-mile radius.
Behind the storms, more seasonable weather will return. Highs are expected to be in the 50s on Sunday, down from the temperatures in the 60s and 70s the last few days.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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