Philadelphia Braces for Widespread Snowfall as Weekend Storm Looms Large
As the nation grapples with a potentially record-breaking winter storm, Philadelphia officials are urging residents to take precautions and stay informed about the impending snow. The city's mayor has declared a state of emergency, which will go into effect at 9 p.m. Saturday and remain in place until road conditions improve.
The National Weather Service is predicting up to 12-18 inches of snow in the Philadelphia area between Saturday night and Monday morning, with a mix of sleet and freezing rain expected to impact accumulation totals. Temperatures are forecasted to stay below freezing every day next week, making it a slow process for melting snow.
To prepare for the storm, residents have been advised to limit unnecessary travel once conditions worsen, and if they must venture out, to give themselves extra time, drive slowly, and avoid roads that become hazardous. City officials are also asking residents to clear 36-inch paths on sidewalks in front of their homes and not pile up snow mounds with snowblowers.
The city's streets department has a plan in place to handle the storm, which includes 1,000 workers, 600 pieces of equipment, and 30,000 tons of salt. However, residents are being asked to stay off the roads as much as possible to allow crews and first responders to do their jobs safely.
In addition to Philadelphia, neighboring states are also taking precautions. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has declared a state of emergency, which will go into effect at 5 p.m. Saturday. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has also activated the state's disaster response plan, providing agencies with resources and allowing the state to quickly use funding to assist municipalities in response efforts.
SEPTA is warning customers that services may be impacted on Sunday, including slower service and possible suspensions of some lines. The city's streets department is implementing highway restrictions, but non-passenger vehicles are not prohibited from driving on interstates.
To make matters worse, the Philadelphia International Airport is expecting cancellations and delays throughout the weekend, with airport spokesperson Heather Redfern advising travelers to check flight status before heading to PHL.
As the storm approaches, residents are advised to stay safe and informed. Stay tuned for further updates as this story continues to develop.
As the nation grapples with a potentially record-breaking winter storm, Philadelphia officials are urging residents to take precautions and stay informed about the impending snow. The city's mayor has declared a state of emergency, which will go into effect at 9 p.m. Saturday and remain in place until road conditions improve.
The National Weather Service is predicting up to 12-18 inches of snow in the Philadelphia area between Saturday night and Monday morning, with a mix of sleet and freezing rain expected to impact accumulation totals. Temperatures are forecasted to stay below freezing every day next week, making it a slow process for melting snow.
To prepare for the storm, residents have been advised to limit unnecessary travel once conditions worsen, and if they must venture out, to give themselves extra time, drive slowly, and avoid roads that become hazardous. City officials are also asking residents to clear 36-inch paths on sidewalks in front of their homes and not pile up snow mounds with snowblowers.
The city's streets department has a plan in place to handle the storm, which includes 1,000 workers, 600 pieces of equipment, and 30,000 tons of salt. However, residents are being asked to stay off the roads as much as possible to allow crews and first responders to do their jobs safely.
In addition to Philadelphia, neighboring states are also taking precautions. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has declared a state of emergency, which will go into effect at 5 p.m. Saturday. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has also activated the state's disaster response plan, providing agencies with resources and allowing the state to quickly use funding to assist municipalities in response efforts.
SEPTA is warning customers that services may be impacted on Sunday, including slower service and possible suspensions of some lines. The city's streets department is implementing highway restrictions, but non-passenger vehicles are not prohibited from driving on interstates.
To make matters worse, the Philadelphia International Airport is expecting cancellations and delays throughout the weekend, with airport spokesperson Heather Redfern advising travelers to check flight status before heading to PHL.
As the storm approaches, residents are advised to stay safe and informed. Stay tuned for further updates as this story continues to develop.
12-18 inches of snow in philly?! that's crazy! i'm so over the cold weather already, but at least they're preparing the city with all those workers and equipment 
. but ugh, septa services being impacted on sunday? that's just great 
. what if ppl can't get to work or school?! 
i just wanna curl up by the fireplace with a hot cup of cocoa and stay there till the storm passes 
️. anyone else getting snowed in this weekend? 
. It's like we're seeing a classic case of "local vs state" politics. Our mayor is declaring a state of emergency, but what about the governors in neighboring states? Shouldn't they be coordinating their efforts more effectively? I mean, it's not like this is a partisan issue or anything... yet 
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. I know the city's got a solid plan in place to handle it, but still, 12-18 inches of snow is no joke! Can't wait for Monday morning when it'll be sunny and back to normal 
. Hope everyone stays safe and warm this weekend 
Not fun. And ugh, flight cancellations and delays at PHL? That's just great. I hope everyone stays safe and warm over the weekend! 
. Like, what's next? A zombie apocalypse or something? 
12-18 inches of snow in Philly is no joke, btw... can't even imagine trying to shovel all that. And yeah, let's just say SEPTA's gonna be a real treat on Sunday 
. Anyone got any good recipes for hearty soup or something? 
. SEPTA's service updates will probably be the last thing people want to worry about right now 
. I just wish those airport officials would give travelers some better notice before cancellations start popping up... Fingers crossed it doesn't get too messy! 
. And can you imagine driving in all that snow and sleet? No thanks 
, but chill pls 
, city officials got dis. mayor declared state of emergency & streets department got plan in place 2 handle storm. 1k workers, 600 pieces of equipment, 30k tons of salt... thats alot of resources 
. dont even get me started on septa, they gonna make us suffer too 
Plus, it's like Mother Nature is putting on this amazing show just for us. And let's not forget all the delicious hot chocolate and cozy vibes that come with winter. It's gonna be a wild ride, but I'm so here for it!!! 
. I'm not sure if I wanna venture out on the roads or just binge-watch Netflix instead 
. On a related note, have you seen those stats on snow day attendance in Philly schools? It's been around 70-80% over the past few years, which is pretty impressive! 
Here's a chart showing the trend: 
. I hope the city's prep plan is on point and those 1k workers with 600 pieces of equipment are ready to tackle that mess! Fingers crossed it's not a total grind like the last snowfall 
. And can we talk about how airports always get hit the hardest during bad weather? 
And what about all the other cities that aren't getting as much attention as Philly? New Jersey and PA should be taking precautions too, you know. Not just Philly thinking they're above everyone else. 
... and please, don't pile up those snow mounds with your snowblower, it's just gonna make a bigger mess. And what's up with all these declarations of emergencies? I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure this is just basic winter preparedness 101 
... anyway, make sure you've got all the essentials and stay safe out there!
Anyone got a warm cup of coffee to spare for the rest of us commuters? 
The wind was blowing so hard it was hard to keep our hats on 
