Environment & Science

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

On Dec. 21 at approximately 10:27 p.m. EST, we’ll begin the winter solstice north of the equator. Will the change of season finally bring snow?

It might seem counterintuitive, but harvesting holiday trees year after year is better for the environment than using an artificial one, experts said, especially amid the proliferation of plastic piling up in landfills.

Officials on Wednesday reviewed several preliminary transportation policy strategies for the Valley's priority climate action plan. The plan’s focus is to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, a significant driver of greenhouse gas emissions across the region.

More than three dozen projects in the Valley were awarded grants, receiving about 7% of the total funding awarded. Statewide, $335 million in grants were announced Wednesday.

"Turn around, don't drown", warned a spokesperson for PennDOT. More than once today, people in the Valley have had to be rescued from their cars after driving into water that shut their engines off, trapping the drivers.

Some parts of the Lehigh Valley saw more than four inches of rain from Sunday into Monday, with precipitation still falling.

Schools are closing early and a large swath of the region is under a flood warning until at least 3:15 p.m. as the storm system that inundated the area overnight moves north.

The winter, or December, solstice takes place this year between sundown on Dec. 21 and sunrise Dec. 22

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission at 11 a.m. on Wednesday is holding a meeting at its Allentown office to brainstorm and prioritize ways to decarbonize transportation across the region. Decarbonization is the process of reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide emissions.

The Lehigh Valley is under a winter weather advisory and will see accumulating snow for the second time this week. But totals could be higher, with a lot of variables at play.

Easton's Nurture Nature Center may be able to add a new immersive dome theater to their location, provided they receive a parking variance and government clearance to use funding for the project.

The Lehigh Valley won't get a break from snow and brutal cold. Another storm is brewing for the region on Friday.

The National Weather Service recorded 3" of snow at Lehigh Valley International Airport by 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, where school closures opened up a world of opportunity for some kids who wanted to get outside and do some sledding.

North Whitehall Township's Klusaritz Family Farm was recognized at the Pennsylvania Farm Show as one of six farms across the state that had been in the same family for more than 100 years.

Snow and freezing temperatures brought slick roads and travel disruptions to the Lehigh Valley, with the coldest days of the winter expected after the storm.

Easton is looking for a new conservation management apprentice, a position which will entail planting and maintaining urban trees throughout the city.

Several districts announced they would be closed Tuesday because of the weather forecast, which calls for 4 to 6 inches of snow in the Lehigh Valley.

The Lehigh Valley is under a winter weather advisory, and forecasters say every snowflake that falls will stick easily as the coldest air of the season moves in.

The International Space Station is easily visible from Earth just before dawn or after dusk. It gives off no light of its own, but reflects the Sun off its massive solar panels.

Pennsylvania’s economy will center around agriculture in 2024, according to Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Snow squalls cause dangerous travel conditions and can be blinding for motorists, according to the National Weather Service. The Lehigh Valley is at highest risk from mid-morning into the afternoon.