Philadelphia and neighboring states are bracing for a massive winter storm that threatens to dump up to 18 inches of snow on the region over the weekend. With the storm expected to hit at nightfall Saturday, city officials have issued emergency declarations and warned residents to stock up on supplies and stay indoors whenever possible.
Mayor Cherelle Parker declared a state of emergency in Philadelphia on Friday, effective from 9 pm Saturday until "roadway conditions improve." During this time, vehicles will not be allowed on designated snow emergency routes, with cars parked there facing ticketing or towing. City lots are available for a flat rate starting at $5 per vehicle.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning that covers all of Philadelphia and surrounding areas in Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. Residents can expect heavy snowfall and mixed precipitation, with totals ranging from 8 to 10 inches in the city and its suburbs.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency, freeing up resources for municipalities to respond to the storm. The governor said the declaration gives his team "flexibility to pre-position resources, streamline coordination, and respond quickly if conditions deteriorate this weekend."
In New Jersey, Governor Mikie Sherrill has declared a state of emergency, effective from 5 pm Saturday. The order applies to all 21 counties and includes a commercial vehicle restriction on major highways.
Residents are advised to stay off the roads whenever possible, limit unnecessary travel, and plan for alternative activities. Many schools have already announced closures for Monday, including the School District of Philadelphia and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools.
SEPTA has warned riders to expect slower service and possible suspensions of some lines as storm conditions worsen on Sunday. The transit agency recommends using underground routes like the Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines and will operate overnight service where possible.
Trash collection in Philadelphia will be suspended on Monday, with all pickups for the remainder of the week pushed back by a day. Driveway collections are also suspended, and residents are asked to bring their trash to the front of their homes or take it to the city's sanitation centers instead.
As the storm approaches, warming centers have been set up across the city to provide shelter for those in need. The Office of Homeless Services has declared an enhanced code blue until further notice, with libraries serving as warming centers from 9 am to 9 pm and five recreation centers providing overnight warming centers.
The Philadelphia International Airport is advising travelers to check flight status before heading to the airport, citing a handful of cancellations and delays already reported. The airport recommends following Flightaware for updates on flight delays and cancellations.
With temperatures expected to remain below freezing every day next week, residents are advised to be prepared for extended power outages and disruptions to daily life.
Mayor Cherelle Parker declared a state of emergency in Philadelphia on Friday, effective from 9 pm Saturday until "roadway conditions improve." During this time, vehicles will not be allowed on designated snow emergency routes, with cars parked there facing ticketing or towing. City lots are available for a flat rate starting at $5 per vehicle.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning that covers all of Philadelphia and surrounding areas in Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. Residents can expect heavy snowfall and mixed precipitation, with totals ranging from 8 to 10 inches in the city and its suburbs.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency, freeing up resources for municipalities to respond to the storm. The governor said the declaration gives his team "flexibility to pre-position resources, streamline coordination, and respond quickly if conditions deteriorate this weekend."
In New Jersey, Governor Mikie Sherrill has declared a state of emergency, effective from 5 pm Saturday. The order applies to all 21 counties and includes a commercial vehicle restriction on major highways.
Residents are advised to stay off the roads whenever possible, limit unnecessary travel, and plan for alternative activities. Many schools have already announced closures for Monday, including the School District of Philadelphia and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools.
SEPTA has warned riders to expect slower service and possible suspensions of some lines as storm conditions worsen on Sunday. The transit agency recommends using underground routes like the Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines and will operate overnight service where possible.
Trash collection in Philadelphia will be suspended on Monday, with all pickups for the remainder of the week pushed back by a day. Driveway collections are also suspended, and residents are asked to bring their trash to the front of their homes or take it to the city's sanitation centers instead.
As the storm approaches, warming centers have been set up across the city to provide shelter for those in need. The Office of Homeless Services has declared an enhanced code blue until further notice, with libraries serving as warming centers from 9 am to 9 pm and five recreation centers providing overnight warming centers.
The Philadelphia International Airport is advising travelers to check flight status before heading to the airport, citing a handful of cancellations and delays already reported. The airport recommends following Flightaware for updates on flight delays and cancellations.
With temperatures expected to remain below freezing every day next week, residents are advised to be prepared for extended power outages and disruptions to daily life.
im not saying its all bad tho! think about how many ppl get to spend quality time w/ fam & friends indoors, binge-watchin their fave shows & eating lots of hot chocolate 
️
cant wait 2 see the snow pics on instagram & hear all about it afterwards 
18 inches of snow? that's crazy! people should def stay indoors and stock up on supplies 
. cant believe they're allowing cars on snow emergency routes tho... how is that gonna help? 
city lots are like $5 tho, so maybe thats a silver lining 
. i mean, 18 inches in one weekend? that's crazy talk! 
we gotta stock up on food, water, and all that jazz before it hits. and omg, dont even get me started on the roads 
. mayor cherelle parker just declared a state of emergency n i think thats a good idea 
. anyone got any tips on how to stay safe n warm during this whole stormy mess? 
people in philly and the surrounding areas need to stock up on supplies like food, water, and batteries 
all those schools closing and SEPTA suspending services will definitely make things harder on people 
and with trash collection suspended too, it's gonna be a real struggle to get stuff done 
Back in my day we didn't have all these fancy storm declarations and emergency proclamations... we just dealt with it like adults. I mean, sure, it's nice that the city is setting up warming centers for those in need, but can't they also make sure the snowplows are actually plowing the streets? 
Come on, can't we afford to take care of our own snow day emergencies? It feels like every time it snows, it's another excuse for the city to nickel-and-dime us. I guess that's just progress, right? 
. And all these emergency declarations? Just a bunch of bureaucratic red tape 
. We've been through worse winters before and come out the other side just fine.
.
. We'll survive this just like we do every winter. And if worst comes to worst, we can always bust out our snow boots and enjoy the ride 
. just stay indoors, stock up on supplies, and keep an eye on the news. dont forget ur neighbors too 
they might be struggling more than u think.
& plan 4 alternative activities 
or games. theres plenty of warming centers open 2 help those in need 
. stay warm & safe, philly! 
. But seriously, Philly is getting hit hard with up to 18 inches of snow?! That's like a whole new layer of snow on top of the existing layer 
. City officials are being super responsible as always, but I'm just over here counting down the hours until my favorite TV show starts 
.
. I mean, free resources and all that jazz sounds awesome, but also kinda implies that we can't handle our own snow emergencies 
.
! And trash collection being suspended on Monday? That's like a surprise party... for the trash collectors 
, but it's gonna be a long weekend 
, so I guess that's cool 
. SEPTA is warning about slower service and possible suspensions 
️, but residents should be prepared 
...like, who even remembers to take out the trash? 
...not exactly what you want when you're flying on a snow day 
everyone!