Wind Warning, Flood Watch in Effect

High winds and heavy rain forecast for Thursday night and Friday have prompted the National Weather Service to issue both a high wind warning and a flood watch for the entire Lehigh Valley. The high wind warning will be in effect from 2pm through midnight Friday and the flood watch is for Friday morning through Saturday morning.

The wind warning calls for sustained winds of between 20 and 30 mph Friday with gusts of up to 60 mph at times. The extreme winds, along with the forecast heavy rain, could make travel difficult and cause both trees and power lines to come down.

A high wind warning is issued when "a hazardous wind event is expected or occuring," according to the National Weather Service. "Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage."

At this time, "widespread power outages are possible," the weather service said in its statement announcing the wind warning. "Downed trees and tree limbs may damage structures and vehicles. The wind will make driving difficult...especially on bridges and overpasses."

According to the flood watch statement, one to two inches of rain are predicted to fall between Friday and Saturday, with the heaviest rain expected "from Friday's pre-dawn hours through the mid-afternoon hours."

"Snowmelt and thunderstorms could also add to the flood threat," the statement said.

The National Weather Service advises residents to continue monitoring forecasts in advance of the storm.