The region is under a winter weather advisory and a hazardous weather outlook through Christmas morning.
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The last time it snowed and stuck on Christmas in the Lehigh Valley was in 2002, the National Weather Service says. On Dec. 26 of that year, roads were covered in Downtown Easton.
Since 1980, Christmas weather has featured snow on three Christmas Days and four Christmas Eves, meteorologist Valerie Meola said this morning from the National Weather Service station at Mount Holly, N.J.
The last time it snowed on Christmas was in 2002, but the last time snow was on the ground on Christmas was 2009, the residue from a storm several days before.
Late this afternoon, snow is forecast to start to fall and accumulate about an inch, possibly mixing with freezing rain to make any last-minute trips treacherous, she said.
"The bigger problem is going to be as the sun goes down," Meloa said, saying the freezing rain could be especially worrisome. Ice could accumulate as well as the snow, she said.
The National Weather Service this morning issued a winter weather advisory and hazardous weather outlook until 7 a.m. Christmas for a region encompassing Lehigh, Northampton and Warren counties, according to the weather service's website.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation by mid-morning today was pre-treating Route 22 in the Lehigh Valley.
It should clear out Christmas morning, with sunny skies and a high of 40, she said.
Locals at Terra Cafe in Easton welcomed the snowy forecast.
"Heck yeah, I'm all for it, just like all the songs imply," said Mike Pearsall, of Forks Township. "It's supposed to be perfect. You go to sleep with nothing, wake up with an inch or two. It's like every kid's dream."
Abby Wolfe, of Catasauqua, said she doesn’t like snow, “but I think it gives more of a Christmas feel when it snows."
Others were worried about their holiday traffic plans.
"I love white Christmases," Braegen Moffo, of Easton, said. "But this year I have to drive too much so I hope we don't get a real bad one." He said he just got a rear-wheel drive car and will be driving back and forth between Catasauqua and Easton.
The winter weather won't be anything like the Christmas Eve blizzard of 1966, but it seldom is.Why don't we have more white Christmases in the region? The average high is 38 or 39 degrees this time of year and the average daily temperature is in the mid 30s, Meola said. Not to mention that December is not as wet a month as January or February, she said. The overnight lows are in the low 20s, she said.
January and February are colder than December, as well, she said, making snow a more frequent visitor.
The area has moved into what Meola calls a "more active" pattern, with possible snow overnight Wednesday and possibly again over the weekend.
Some folks love snow, others hate it, she said. As for Meola, she likes to look at snow, but "I don't particularity like to drive in it." And because she forecasts the weather, she doesn't like snow because, "I have to get to work."
Blue Mountain Ski Area announced today it is opening 8 a.m. till 10 p.m. Wednesday for skiing, riding and tubing. Tickets are full price for skiing and riding. but every person will receive a voucher to visit Blue again, valid after Feb. 25.
Three trails at the Lower Towamensing Township, Pa., ski area will be open: Easy Out, Vista and Come Around Park with three features. The tubing park initially will feature three lanes.