Environment & Science

An earthquake rattled the Lehigh Valley and the greater Mid-Atlantic on Friday, with social media instantly blowing up. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was centered in Hunterdon County, New Jersey — about 35 miles from Bethlehem.

A 4.8 magnitude Earthquake in New Jersey was felt throughout the Lehigh Valley Friday morning, but why is that? Meteorologist Matthew Cappucci helps explain how the ancient crust of the east coast played a part in the quake.

Looking to throw a solar eclipse party on Monday? Make sure you stock up on some of these awesome eats, including snacks, main courses, and plenty of sweets.

The Lehigh Valley will only see partial coverage during the April 8 solar eclipse. Those dedicated to seeing totality in its fullest are traveling outside of county and state bounds to do so.

DeSales University in Upper Saucon Township sent out a message saying it will reopen at 10 a.m. Thursday, but then reversed course and said the campus would remain closed due to the ongoing power outages.

The Lehigh Valley has posted nearly a month's worth of rain in the last three days, and well over eight inches since the beginning of March.

The school district informed the community it will dismiss all students early “out of an abundance of caution” ahead of the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.

As severe weather rakes the East Coast, the National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for the Lehigh Valley effective Wednesday afternoon. A nor'easter is also expected as a secondary low redevelops off the coast.

Monday's solar eclipse will not turn the skies in the Lehigh Valley pitch black, Moravian University astronomy professor Gary A. Becker said. Just a bit wonky. The ideal time in the Lehigh Valley to view the eclipse is 3:24 p.m.

Crews are set to get to work this year on a project to restore Bogert's Bridge after years of fundraising and design work.

The winter solstice is celebrated in many ways by many cultures. How will you ring it in in the wee hours of Saturday morning, Dec. 21?

State environmental officials awarded $2.55 million in grants as part of a statewide effort to improve air quality in communities through cleaner fuel transportation infrastructure.

Wilson Area School District's second annual Family Computer Science Night welcomed hundreds of students to learn all about computers, AI, robots, and the future careers they could have in the field on Thursday evening.

Plans by Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley to construct a 1,200-square-foot addition to its existing administrative offices at 4501 Crackersport Road were approved by the South Whitehall Township Planning Commission on Thursday night.

Three farms in Lehigh County were the latest to be included in Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program. The program aims to ward off development and protect open spaces.

A system arriving Sunday night could bring a period of snow and ice to the area before a changeover to rain but “there remains considerable uncertainty with the details.”

During the 2023-24 hunting seasons, a record-breaking 261,672 pounds of venison from 6,905 deer and six elk statewide was donated through Hunters Sharing the Harvest. Find out how much was donated in the Lehigh Valley.

Part of the DCNR Community Conservation Partnerships Program, the grants support projects to develop new parks, rehabilitate existing spaces and protect vital natural habitats. A dozen Lehigh Valley projects were funded.

The Blue Mountain fire, also called the Gap Fire, on Nov. 2 erupted in Lehigh Township. The fire, which grew from 150 acres to almost 600, took seven days of fighting before it was marked 100% contained.

The rainfall is expected to be heaviest Wednesday afternoon and evening as a cold front approaches, with forecasters not ruling out some rumbles of thunder possible in the Lehigh Valley.

Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s annual autumn Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch ended late last month, with 9,373 migrating raptors recorded. While the overall count is lower than last year, many species exceeded 2023 totals.

Planet Venus is acting as the brightest star, visible in the West after sunset. Grab your binoculars, because there's a second planet at play with lots to show.