The Valley cools down —quickly

First Posted:

WILKES-BARRE — Blame Canada.

WNEP meteorologist Tom Clark said the strong cold front that moved through the area Tuesday is due to a storm front that’s funneling air from our neighbors to the north.

The result was a massive cool down from springlike temperatures over the weekend to frigid cold temperatures. Clark said the Wyoming Valley experienced a 55-degree drop in temperature from Sunday — when temperatures hit 80 — to Tuesday — when temperatures plummeted into 20s.

Clark said the low this morning will approach the record low of 20 degrees set in 1943. Temperatures are expected to climb back into the upper 40s this afternoon and back into the 60s on Thursday and Friday.

“We’re getting air that was, a couple days ago, in central Canada,” he said.

Clark said April is a “transition month,” and that abnormally warm days are usually followed by cool downs. A 55-degree drop, however, is uncommon.

“It’s a little atypical,” Clark said. “It’s a bit unusual to see this temperature drop.”

Heavy rain and mixed precipitation also factored in thanks to the colder temperatures. Clark anticipated up to an inch and a half of rain, and some snow that would not accumulate. A flood watch was in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Clark said some flooding was possible in streams and poor drainage areas.

Once the cold front moves out of the area, Clark said a “slow recovery” should follow. Freezing temperatures are expected tonight and Thursday night before getting back to normal by the weekend.

Clark added that Easter Sunday looks to be a cool day in the upper 50s, but with mostly sunny skies.