Environment & Science

Many spots could receive 2 to 3 inches of rain, forecasters warn, with areas of flooding possible Sunday night as another coastal storm targets the region.

Amid the joy and festivities, environmental advocates are urging residents to keep sustainability in mind during what can be a time of year when trash and waste spikes.

State environmental officials on Thursday evening hosted the last of five public engagement sessions, as they work to create a Priority Climate Action Plan, or PCAP, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emission statewide and mitigate further effects of climate change.

Forecasters say another impactful storm is expected to move up the coast, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to the region Sunday into Monday.

The new official map marks recently acquired land, while setting priorities for future desired open space.

A Tuesday evening webinar cosponsored by the Bethlehem Area Public Library and Bethlehem Food Co-Op focused on how residents can meaningfully participate in the city’s efforts to fight climate change.

The Lehigh Valley remains devoid of accumulating snow events so far in December —and it looks like that pattern will continue straight through the holiday season.

Brad Klein reviews the week’s astronomical highlights with Bethlehem’s 'Backyard Astronomy Guy," Marty McGuire.

Sunday's rain could transition to snow as the storm system departs the region Monday morning, with the potential to affect the morning commute, according to the National Weather Service.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its plant hardiness map, showing a warmer Lehigh Valley. The region has moved into a warmer zone from the one where it was placed more than a decade ago. Experts say it has consequences for plant seasons and species.

Forecasters now expect widespread snow totals of 12 to 18 inches across much of the region, with locally higher amounts possible. The warning replaces the earlier watch, signaling that severe winter weather is now considered imminent.

Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio announced that a 93-year-old Lower Macungie Township woman died outside her home of hypothermia. She is Lehigh County's first weather-related fatality of 2026.

Allentown declared a snow emergency ahead of Sunday's major winter storm. Enforcement efforts in the city will begin Saturday morning.

Residents of South Whitehall Township voiced their opposition to a proposed 5-million-square-foot data center near Parkland High School.

In a briefing package released early Thursday, the National Weather Service put the low end amount expected in the Lehigh Valley around 8 inches. But a “reasonable worst case” would see the area receive as much as 21 inches of snow.

EPAWA meteorologist Bobby Martrich is sounding the alarm on cuts at the federal level he says are quietly eroding the reliability of weather forecasts across the country, from national outlooks to the local forecasts residents rely on every day.

A community meeting on the city's Urban Forestry Master Plan is slated for Feb. 2 in chambers of City Council. Residents are invited to shared feedback there, as well as through a survey.

The funding, through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Recreation and Conservation’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program, is aimed at protecting national resources and expanding outdoor access.

The developer behind the Easton Commerce Park project and Wilson Borough have filed a lawsuit against Easton's planning commission after it rejected its plans for a 1-million-square-foot warehouse on Wood Avenue.

Two 4-H state project ambassadors for expressive arts presented “Trash to Treasure — Recycling and the Art of Upcycling,” Tuesday at the PA Farm Show.

Easton was able to secure $1.25 million of grant funding in December 2025, supporting various projects including infrastructure, public safety and Easton's parks and festivals.

This week on Watching the Skies, Brad Klein reviews upcoming astronomical highlights this year with Bethlehem's "Backyard Astronomy Guy."