Lehigh Valley under wind advisory for gusts up to 50 mph as cold front moves through, with temperatures set to plummet

A person walks in the rain during a storm Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Northampton.

The Lehigh Valley could see high wind gusts Wednesday as a cold front comes to the area and drops temperatures.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory, which goes into effect at 4 p.m. Winds of up to 20 to 30 mph, with gusts between 40 and 50 mph, are likely.

The high winds could move unsecured objects and tree limbs, and could cause a few power outages as well, forecasters warned.

Winds will increase later in the day as a cold front passes through the area, drastically dropping the warmer temperatures the area has experienced recently.

PPL officials said Wednesday that crews are monitoring the forecast and are prepared to address any potential outages from the wind. Hundreds of workers are ready to respond, according to the company.

“The high winds and additional rain, on a ground that is already saturated from recent snow, could bring down trees and limbs on our electric lines and equipment, causing power outages,” Christine Martin, president of PPL Electric Utilities, said in a news release. “We want customers to know that we have crews across our service territory ready to work around the clock to help get customers back online as safely and efficiently as we can.”

Outages may be reported online at pplelectric.com or by texting “Outage” to TXTPPL.

The weather service is expecting a high of 61 and a low of 27 Wednesday. Temperatures will remain in the upper 50s and low 60s, roughly 15 degrees above normal, through a large part of the day.

Temperatures are expected to drop into the 30s by midnight.

The Lehigh Valley has seen some warmer weather over the past few days. The Allentown area recorded a high of 62 Tuesday, marking the warmest day of the year so far, according to weather service data.

Outside of wind and warmer temperatures, rain is likely through Wednesday morning and afternoon.

Rain is also possible Saturday and early next week. Here is the extended forecast from the National Weather Service:

Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 61. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 10 p.m. and midnight. Low around 27. Windy, with a west wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 50. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: A chance of rain after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of rain before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60.

Sunday Night: A chance of rain after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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