Summer’s ending next week for students across the Lehigh Valley — and the weather will feel like it.
Temperatures will dip into the 70s for the start of the school year for many districts.
Highs in the low to mid-80s are expected this weekend through Monday before dropping into the mid-70s starting Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey.
A cold front is expected to impact the area sometime Monday and bring those cooler temperatures, forecasters with the weather service office wrote Thursday in their daily forecast discussion.
Conditions will be more typical of mid to late September, forecasters said.
Highs have been much cooler this week in the Lehigh Valley, with temperatures not even reaching 80. A high of 74 is expected Thursday before a brief return to normal temperatures over the weekend.
A low of 56 is expected, which would break the previous record of 61 degrees set Aug. 21, 2007.
Friday and Saturday should be sunny and dry, with highs close to 83.
Forecasters said more humid and rainy conditions are expected Sunday and Monday. There is a 60% chance of rain Sunday, followed by a 40% chance Monday as rainfall lingers into that day. Severe storms and flooding are not likely during that time.
Cooler temperatures are likely to stick around for a bit; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in its two-week temperature outlook Wednesday that temperatures Aug. 28 through Sept. 3 likely will be below normal.
Here is the extended forecast from the National Weather Service:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Light west wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday: Showers likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 75.
