On Friday, Lehigh and Northampton counties are under an Extreme Heat Warning, with deadly heat index values of 103–107 degrees possible.
In the late afternoon and evening, there is also a remote chance of severe thunderstorms.
With temperatures reaching the mid to upper 90s and dewpoints in the low to mid 70s, the National Weather Service has issued a warning for possibly fatal heat conditions from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday.
Precautions include drinking enough of water, avoiding the outdoors, and keeping an eye on susceptible groups, such as young children and elderly neighbors.
Late afternoon to early evening is when severe thunderstorms are most likely to occur, with destructive winds most likely to occur northwest of the I-95 corridor.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, there is a slight (2/5) chance of severe weather in the area, with thunderstorms possibly forming from the northwest to the southeast.
The possible storms are being triggered by a cold front that is moving from the west.
With partly cloudy sky on Saturday and Sunday and the possibility of sporadic showers and thunderstorms, the weekend will bring somewhat cooler temperatures.
With highs in the 80s and heat indices possibly hitting the low 90s, the weather will continue to be warm.
Precipitation chances may increase, especially on Sunday, as a frontal boundary remains in the region.
More consistent weather is anticipated early next week, with Monday bringing mostly sunny skies and temperatures progressively rising back to more seasonable levels.
Another cold front is predicted to pass over the area by Wednesday, possibly bringing with it colder and drier weather by the end of the week.
Parts of this report were drafted using generative AI and vetted and modified by the crew of lehighvalleylive.com.
