A First Alert is in effect for our region due to much colder temperatures, high winds, and in some areas, a rain/snow wintry mix. All of these changes rolled into the tri-state area Saturday night and continued into Sunday.
Wintry Mix Falls in Parts of Region
Saturday began comfortably with well above average high temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. From the west, a strong system with a large cold began to move in Saturday night, bringing big changes to the forecast.
Beginning around 6 p.m., spotty showers moved over the western edge of our viewing area. The showers progressed east and south as the night carried on.
By 8 p.m., showers began in Philadelphia, stretching through New Jersey. A rain/snow wintry mix also began falling in areas north and west of Philadelphia, including Berks, Lehigh, Upper Bucks and Upper Montgomery counties. Light snow was also spotted in the Poconos.
Very little snow stuck in the Lehigh Valley as the ground was too warm. However, the wintry weather, combined with the cooler temps and high winds was a shock for many to step into following the much warmer than average temperatures we have been seeing.
A Wind Advisory was in effect for the area until midnight Monday. Winds gained strength early evening Saturday. Around 3400 PECO customers in the area were without power at one point due to wind damage. Overnight winds gusted up to 40 miles per hour.
The winds continued to gust to 40-50 miles per hour Sunday. The Philadelphia Marathon was very cold and windy. As a result, wind chill temperatures made it feel much colder than it truly was on Sunday. Sunday morning temperatures felt like they were in the low 20s around Philadelphia.
The wind uprooted a tree which fell on a green Ford Focus on Henry Avenue in Philadelphia Sunday morning, trapping the driver inside. The driver was eventually rescued and taken to Einstein Hospital. A ground stop was also put in effect for flights departing to Philly International Airport due to the high winds.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
For the Lehigh Valley and portions of the suburbs, temperatures felt like they were in the upper teens. Sunday high temperatures were in the mid to upper 40s, feeling like only 30-35 degrees due to high winds.
Temperatures will remain chilly Monday and Tuesday as well, with windy weather forecast through Monday.
