Community Corner

Flood Watch: 2-4 Inches of Rain Likely in Macungie Thursday

Brace yourself for another very soggy day as a strong low pressure system brings heavy rain to the Lower Macungie Patch area Thursday into Thursday night.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for 10 a.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday for Lehigh County as a strong low pressure system brings us another day of heavy rain.

Expect two to four inches of rain Thursday into Thursday night from showers and thunderstorms. The high will be near 74.

The Weather Service says it won't take much rain to produce flooding since creeks and streams are already high from rain we had Monday and last Friday.

Find out what's happening in Lower Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Macungie Borough has cancelled its Thursday, July 13 Macungie Farmer's Market based on the weather forecast, according to an email message from Borough Manager Chris Boehm on Wednesday afternoon.

Lower Macungie Township is ready for the heavy rainfall, according to Ben Galiardo, director of emergency management.

Find out what's happening in Lower Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Wednesday afternoon, the township's road crew already had barricades on their trucks so they would be ready to shut down roads on Thursday should flooding occur.

"Basically, any road that there is a bridge over, (could potentially flood)," Galiardo explained, listing Mill Race Road, Wild Cherry and Sauerkraut lanes as possibilities.

"As you know, Spring Creek floods out all the time," he added, "but that's a PennDOT road, so that's their responsibility." But, he said that township road crews are ready to shut down all the township roads that connect to Spring Creek "so that nobody can access Spring Creek if it floods."

Galiardo also cautioned residents against crossing a barricade, since getting caught doing so brings a $500 fine and two points on a driver's license. And, he added that if the fire department needs to come out to rescue someone who crosses a flood barricade, the that driver could also be billed by the fire for the rescue.

If you see high water or flooding in your area, tell us in the comments section below and post your photos to this story.

Forecasters expect a significant rise in the Delaware River but it should stay within its banks.

The storm system will affect New Jersey, Delaware and northeastern Maryland in addition to eastern Pennsylvania.

The weather should improve Friday with partly sunny skies.

Expect sunny or partly sunny days this weekend with highs in the upper 70s.


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