The remnants of Tropical Storm Fred soaked the Lehigh Valley and surrounding region Wednesday night into Thursday, leading to flash flooding.
By late Wednesday night, between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain has fallen across much of the region, with some areas approaching 3 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
The flash flooding led to several water rescues around the area, including one on Schantz Road near Route 100 in Upper Macungie Township, around 12:30 a.m., according to scanner reports. An earlier water rescue was reported at Lehigh Street and 33rd Street SW in Allentown.
Several roads were closed as of midnight, including a portion of Route 145 in Laurys Station, and Coffeetown Road in the area of Orefield Road south of Schnecksville, according to weather service storm information reports.
At about 9:45 p.m., emergency crews requested Weaversville Road in Hanover Township be closed between Cascade Drive in Lehigh County and Hanover Street in Northampton County.
Some basement flooding was reported in homes in the Bangor area, according to the weather service.
Two flash flash flood warnings were issued — one for central Lehigh County, central Northampton County and south central Monroe County, and a second in western Lehigh County and northeastern Berks County. Both have since expired.
A flash flood watch had been in effect for the entire region. A separate flood advisory was issued for small streams and poor drainage areas in east central Lehigh County, eastern Northampton County, north Central Bucks County and southwestern Warren County.
A tornado watch for eastern Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley, expired at 11 p.m.
The government’s Storm Prediction Center said the atmosphere could support “multiple supercells with the potential for a few tornadoes and isolated strong wind gusts.”
The Lehigh Valley was placed on the edge of the marginal to slight risk category for severe weather, with a higher risk in central Pennsylvania, which bore the brunt of Fred’s remnants.
Fred’s remnants tracked east-northeastward along the Pennsylvania-New York border overnight, then quickly exited to the north and east, according to the weather service.
Thursday morning will start out cloudy, giving way to breaks of sunshine, according to the forecast discussion. A few additional showers or thunderstorms may develop in the afternoon. It will remain humid, with high temperatures in the mid 80s.
