Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton declare snow emergencies ahead of major winter storm

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — The Lehigh Valley is bracing for a major winter storm that could dump 12 to 18 inches of snow beginning early Sunday, prompting snow emergency declarations in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton and travel restrictions across the region.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning from 1 a.m. Sunday through 1 p.m. Monday, warning that heavy snow, blowing snow and dangerous travel conditions are likely. Forecasters say this could be one of the most significant snowstorms to hit the area in years.

With statewide impacts expected, Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a disaster declaration Friday, urging residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

Snow emergencies and parking restrictions

Allentown Snow Emergency Routes

Allentown’s snow emergency begins at 11 a.m. Saturday. Parking is prohibited on designated snow emergency routes.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said city crews will begin plowing roads early Sunday, but warned that it could take multiple days to clear all streets. Police Chief Charles Roca urged residents to avoid driving on Sunday.

A full list of routes is available below and also on allentownparking.com.

Street	From	To
North 4th St	Gordon St	Chew St
South 4th St	Hamilton St	Walnut St
South 4th St	Priscilla St	Susquehanna St
6th St	Union St	City Line
7th St	Union St	City Line
South 8th St	Walnut St	Union St
South 8th St	Harrison St	Susquehanna St
12th St	Green St	Tilghman St
12th St	Hamilton St	Walnut St
15th St	Elm St	Mauch Chunk Rd
17th St	Hamilton St	Tilghman St
N 19th St	Liberty St	Roth Ave
24th St	Hamilton St	E Texas Blvd
Chew St	4th St	City Line
Emaus Ave	Bradford St	Mack Blvd
Front St / Fullerton Ave	North of City Line	Gordon St
Gordon St	American Pkwy	Front St
Hamilton St	Front St	4th St
Hamilton St	12th St	20th St
E Hamilton St	Carlisle St	Aubrey St
Hanover Ave	E Hamilton St	City Line
Irving St	Hanover Ave	Union Blvd
Lehigh St	Auburn St	S 12th St
Liberty St	17th St	19th St
Oxford Dr	Lehigh St	Salisbury Dr
St John St	S 8th St	Lehigh St
Susquehanna St	S 4th St	City Line
Tilghman St	Front St	30th St
Union Blvd	Irving St	Club Ave
Walnut St	S 4th St	S 12th St

Allentown Snow Emergency Parking

Residents may park for free at the Allentown Government Deck starting at midnight on Friday. All vehicles must vacate APA parking decks by 6:00 PM on Tuesday, January 27.

Deck Name	Address	Free Parking Starts
Government Deck	435 W Hamilton St	12 AM Saturday (Fri night)
ATC (Transportation Center)	110 N 6th St	8 PM Saturday
Community Deck	13 S 6th St	8 PM Saturday
Spiral Deck	820 W Linden St	8 PM Saturday
Maple Street Garage	920 W Maple St	8 PM Saturday
ArtsWalk Deck	612 W Linden St	8 PM Saturday
940 Deck	940 W Linden St	8 PM Saturday
Strata Symphony	39 N 6th St	NOT INCLUDED

Bethlehem Snow Emergency Routes

Bethlehem’s snow emergency takes effect at 6 p.m. Saturday. Vehicles must be removed from the posted side of snow emergency routes by that time. Cars left in violation may be towed.

NORTH EAST STREETS
Street	Between	Clear on M/W/F	Clear on T/TH/S/SU
E Broad St	N New St – Stefko Blvd	South/Even Side	North/Odd Side
Center St	Fahy Bridge – Biery’s Bridge Rd	East/Even Side	West/Odd Side
E Union Blvd	N New St – Maple St	South/Even Side	North/Odd Side
N New St	Church St – Elizabeth Ave	East/Even Side	West/Odd Side
Linden St	E Broad St – City Line	East/Even Side	West/Odd Side
E Elizabeth Ave	N New St – Linden St	South/Even Side	North/Odd Side
Pembroke Rd	Edge St – Livingston St	South/Even Side	North/Odd Side
Maple St	E Union Blvd – E Goepp St	East/Even Side	West/Odd Side
Easton Ave	E Elizabeth Ave – E Washington Ave	East/Even Side	West/Odd Side
E Goepp St	Maple St – Edge St	South/Even Side	North/Odd Side

NORTH WEST STREETS
Street	Between	Clear on M/W/F	Clear on T/TH/S/SU
W Broad St	N New St – Club Ave	North/Even Side	South/Odd Side
W Union Blvd	N New St – Club Ave	North/Even Side	South/Odd Side
3rd Ave	W Broad St – W Union Blvd	East/Even Side	West/Odd Side
8th Ave	Schoenersville Rd – W Lehigh St	East/Even Side	West/Odd Side
Schoenersville Rd	Westgate Dr – Elizabeth Ave	East/Even Side	West/Odd Side
Main St	W Church St – W Elizabeth Ave	East/Even Side	West/Odd Side
W Elizabeth Ave	Mauch Chunk Rd – N New St	North/Even Side	South/Odd Side
Guetter St	W Broad St – W Walnut St	East/Even Side	West/Odd Side
W Walnut St	Guetter St – N New St	North/Even Side	South/Odd Side

SOUTH STREETS
Street	Between	Clear on M/W/F	Clear on T/TH/S/SU
Wyandotte St	Hill-to-Hill Bridge – City Line	West/Even Side	East/Odd Side
E & W 3rd St	Delaware Ave – Hayes St	South Side Mountain	North Side River
E & W 4th St	Wyandotte St – William St	South Side Mountain	North Side River
S New St	3rd St – 4th St	West/Even Side	East/Odd Side
Hayes St	E 3rd St – Mountain Dr	West/Even Side	East/Odd Side

Bethlehem Snow Emergency Parking

Free parking will be available at Bethlehem Parking Authority garages — North Street, New Street, Walnut Street, Riverport and Polk Street — beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday until four hours after the emergency is lifted.

Deck Name	Address	Free Parking Starts
North Street Garage	75 W North St	6 PM Saturday
New Street Garage	324 S New St	6 PM Saturday
Walnut Street Garage	33 W Walnut St	6 PM Saturday
Riverport Garage	11 W 2nd St	6 PM Saturday
Polk Street Garage	413 E 3rd St	6 PM Saturday

Residents needing assistance can call 610-865-7115.

View Bethlehem’s routes and information on bethlehem-pa.gov

Easton

Easton’s snow emergency runs from 5 p.m. Saturday through noon Tuesday. Parking is prohibited on all designated snow emergency routes. Vehicles parked in violation may be ticketed or towed.

Residents living on snow emergency routes may park for free in the South Third Street Garage or North Fourth Street Garage starting at 5 p.m. Saturday. Those vehicles must leave by noon on Tuesday.

Dangerous travel conditions

State transportation officials warn that travel could become dangerous or impossible, with widespread closures likely. Snow, wind and bitter cold may also cause power outages.

All interstate highways, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and major roadways including Routes 22 and 33 will be under Tier 4 vehicle restrictions starting midnight Saturday, meaning commercial vehicles and several other vehicle types will be prohibited. Drivers can check 511pa.com for real-time updates.

The storm comes during an extended cold spell, with below-zero wind chills expected in the Lehigh Valley this weekend. Officials warn that extreme cold after the storm could lead to heating system failures and water main breaks.

Emergency officials continue to urge residents to stay off the roads, check on neighbors and prepare for prolonged hazardous conditions.