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Philadelphia declares «Snow Emergency» ahead of winter storm: Everything you need to know

PR/CP
Montgomery


 

PHILADELPHIA –  With a significant winter storm forecast to impact the region beginning Saturday evening, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and City officials are urging residents to prepare now and stay safe as conditions develop. 

According to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 24 through 1 p.m. on Sunday, January 26, and the Greater Philadelphia area is expected to receive at least six to 12 inches of snow, with hazardous travel conditions, gusty winds, below-freezing temperatures, and potential icing through the beginning of next week. Conditions could lead to delays, closures, and disruptions throughout the city. 

During a press conference today, Mayor Parker formally declared a Snow Emergency effective Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 9 p.m. and, alongside City officials and public service providers, shared details on the City’s preparedness and coordinated response efforts. 

“Today, I am declaring a Snow Emergency to activate our full winter response and ensure every resource is focused on keeping Philadelphians safe,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “Philadelphia has weathered storms before, and we will weather this one together by following guidance and working as One Philly, a United City.” 

A formal Snow Emergency declaration in Philadelphia is issued when severe winter weather is expected to impact travel and public safety significantly. Once a Snow Emergency is in effect, special parking and traffic regulations are activated to allow crews to plow and treat major roadways and emergency routes efficiently. Residents must remove vehicles from designated Snow Emergency Routes, and parking restrictions and towing enforcement are implemented to keep streets clear for snow removal and emergency access. The declaration includes heightened coordination across City departments, utilities, and transit agencies, ensuring resources are fully mobilized to protect residents, maintain essential services, and restore normal operations as quickly and safely as possible. 

«The ‘One Philly, A United City’ initiative, driven by the Parker Administration, embodies an intergovernmental, collaborative approach designed to tackle critical city challenges through coordinated action between city departments, quasi-governmental agencies, and nonprofit partners,” said Carlton Williams, Director, Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. “With a major winter storm that is forecast to bring the highest single-day snow accumulation the city has seen in more than a decade, it has never been more important to join forces to help mitigate a threat to public safety and return the city to normal operations as soon as possible.» 

City Preparations and Response
To ensure public safety and maintain critical services: 

“With more than 1,000 workers, 600 pieces of equipment, and 30,000 tons of salt ready, the City is fully mobilized,” said Kristin Del Rossi, Commissioner, Streets Department. “We are prepared to respond 24/7 to this major winter event to ensure roads are passable for first responders and careful, necessary travel.” 

City Service Impacts

The following service adjustments and operational changes are being implemented across City departments to ensure public safety and maintain critical services during the storm: Sanitation and Recycling Collections: Due to the expected amount of snow accumulation, Sanitation crews and equipment will be diverted to snow operations. Residents should stay tuned to their local news and follow the Sanitation Department on social media. 

PlowPHL: Citizens can track the City’s snow efforts through the interactive mapping tool, PlowPHL. The online platform tracks vehicles assigned to a route for plowing and salting during a snow event. Color-coded information displays the status of the treated roadway in near real-time. PlowPHL demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in City services. View the dashboard at streetsmartphl.phila.gov. 

City Buildings and Services: All City of Philadelphia administrative office buildings will be closed to the public on Monday, January 26, 2026. This includes nonessential City residential services for L&I, Revenue and Water Revenue in the Municipal Services Building, Neighborhood Community Action Centers, among other city agencies. 

Warming Centers: More than a dozen warming centers throughout the city are available to anyone — including people who are housed but may have experienced a power outage, flooding from burst frozen pipes, or have little to no heat. All are welcome. More information about Enhanced Code Blue, including a frequently updated map and list, is available at phila.gov/GetWarm. Call (215) 232-1984 at the Office of Homeless Services to get help for someone living or sleeping outdoors.  

“The warming sites are located inside several libraries during the day and rec center locations at night. They supplement the 450 extra shelter beds we have already added this winter,” said Cheryl Hill, Executive Director of the Office of Homeless Services. “We anticipate opening up another 150 beds in the coming weeks as we work toward our goal to provide 1,000 additional shelter beds to ensure as many people as possible will have access to a warm indoor place stay.”

Pet Safety Awareness: Residents should contact the ACCT Philly hotline (267-385-3800 ext. 1 if they observe a dog outside during the extreme cold (aside from bathroom breaks and short walks). It is against City ordinance to leave dogs outside in extreme cold without proper shelter, and owners can be fined up to $500. 

Food Sites: Residents are encouraged to contact sites to confirm their hours of operation. Visit phila.gov/food or call 311 to find sites closest to you.  

311 Call Center: The Philly 311 Call Center will be operating throughout the storm. Residents should be aware that requests will be processed when the snow operation is completed. Servicing complaints while crew members are continuously working will cause disruptions and delays in the operation. Philly 311 will contact the appropriate service department, and after a reasonable amount of time, residents will receive confirmation that their issue has been addressed. Residents can make requests or report a problem via the portal, the app, an email philly311@phila.gov, and phone (311), however, we recommend using the app since you can share pictures.  

Philadelphia Department of Public Health: All City Health Centers will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026. Patients who have appointments for that day will be contacted by Health Center staff to reschedule those appointments. 

School District of Philadelphia: The School District of Philadelphia announced that all schools (including the District’s Early Childhood Centers) and the Constance E. Clayton Education Center (Central Office) will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026. All after-school activities including all athletic programs and professional development sessions scheduled for Monday are canceled as well. All students are being sent home today with Chromebooks since schools will be closed on Monday.  After Monday, if schools need to remain closed due to inclement weather, students will participate in remote learning from home. District employees will work remotely as well. Learn more here. 

Free Library of Philadelphia: On Saturday, January 24, the following library locations will be open with extended hours as Warming Center locations. Others will be open regular times. 

Several Free Library locations will be serving as warming centers only on Sunday, January 25. The locations that will be open are Northeast Regional, Blackwell Regional (West), Nicetown-Tioga, South Philadelphia, and Parkway Central Library. We will be monitoring capacity for library service and serving as warming centers for Monday. Check the locations page on freelibrary.org for hour-by-hour updates. 

Parks & Recreations: Philadelphia Parks and Recreation is adjusting operations based on expected conditions and will continue assisting the Streets Department with plowing and salting residential routes. 

Philadelphia Water Department: With extended periods of below-freezing temperatures in the forecast, the Philadelphia Water Department is deploying additional staff for emergency preparedness and to increase response to reported leaks, water main repairs, and other weather-related issues.   

Customers should report leaks in the street to the Water Department’s 24/7 emergency hotline, (215) 685-6300. Repairs that restore water to customers and protect public safety are a priority.    

The forecasted weather can lead to frozen or burst pipes in homes. Pipes are most at risk of freezing or bursting when the temperature does not go above freezing for 72 hours or longer. If a resident experiences a loss of water and suspects a water main break, they should first check with nearby neighbors. If others on the block still have water, the issue is likely frozen pipes in the home, and the resident may need to contact a plumber. Tips to avoid frozen pipes include:  

Read All About Frozen Pipes from the Philadelphia Water Department. 

Information for Businesses: All property owners and/or tenants are responsible for clearing a 36- inch path on all sidewalks, including curb cuts, abutting the building or premises within six hours after the snow has ceased to fall—even if the establishment is temporarily closed due to snow. A fine of $1,000 or more may be imposed for a violation of this code. 

Establishments with outdoor dining need to take additional precautions. All outdoor dining setups should be secured, removing as many of the setups as possible—including tables, chairs, and heating equipment. As noted in the City’s winter guidelines for outdoor dining, the City is not liable for any damage from plowing or snow removal. Materials should be cleared from the right of way as much as possible to avoid possible damage. 

Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW): The 24-hour Emergency Hotline will remain open for emergency calls. At any time, all gas leaks or gas-related emergencies should be immediately reported by calling (215) 235-1212.  

PECO: While PECO works to prevent as many outages as possible, severe storms can cause damage and power outages. Customers can act now to prepare for severe weather by visiting peco.com/storm.  In addition, customers can visit peco.com/alerts before winter weather grips the region and sign up to receive updates on their energy usage and information regarding power outages via text, email, or phone, including when power is out, when service is expected to be restored, or when power is restored. Customers can also report power outages to peco.com/outages, or by texting “ADDOUTAGE” to MYPECO (697326), to enroll in our two-way texting program to report outages and check the status. 

SEPTA: Riders are advised to allow extra time for safe travel and check septa.org/alerts for the latest information. SEPTA will notify riders of any service delays, detours or suspended routes via our website, alerts and the app when information becomes available. For more information on how to prepare for schedule changes, detours and suspensions visit septa.org/news/weather.  

Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA): In response to the City’s Snow Emergency, the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) will offer a flat 24-hour $5 discounted parking rate at the following Center City garages, beginning at 7 PM on Saturday, January 24, 2026, and continuing until the Snow Emergency is lifted. 

To receive the discounted $5 rate, customers must bring their parking ticket and pay at the PPA Management Office in each garage. 

During the Snow Emergency, the PPA will enforce all snow emergency routes and safety violations. Beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, meter/kiosk and time limit violations on residential blocks will not be enforced until the Snow Emergency is lifted. Vehicles illegally parked on snow emergency routes will be subject to ticketing and towing. If your vehicle is towed, please call the City’s Snow Emergency line at (215) 686-SNOW or visit the PPA’s website at philapark.org/tow for its location. 

PHL International Airport: The airport has snow removal planned for the duration of the event. Travelers and those picking up travelers are encouraged to check their flight status and road conditions before leaving for the airport on Sunday. Call your airline, get updates at 1-800-PHL-GATE (745-4283), or check the PHL International Airport website at phl.org.  

First Judicial District: All courts and offices of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (FJD) will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026, due to inclement weather. All scheduled matters in the Trial Division — including remote proceedings in the Civil Trial Division, Family Court, and Municipal Court — will be rescheduled by their respective court divisions. Hearings in the Orphans’ Court Division will proceed as scheduled and will be conducted virtually via Zoom. 

Philadelphia Prisons: Due to the Winter Storm Warning, in-person visitation at all Philadelphia Department of Prisons facilities is canceled on Monday, January 26, 2026. Updates and additional information about visiting an incarcerated individual are available at phila.gov/prisons.

Philadelphia Fire Department: The Philadelphia Fire Department reminds everyone to clear snow from around the fire hydrants near you. Mere seconds can be a matter of life and death, and firefighters need access to the hydrants as soon as they arrive at a fire scene. 

Power Outages
Snow, ice, and high wind gusts can contribute to power outages. Philadelphia’s power utility company, PECO, offers ways to help before, during, and after a storm, including preventing outages, preparing for storms, storm restoration, reporting outages online, and tracking current outages. Click on the “Outages” drop-down menu on their homepage. PECO’s free mobile app also lets you easily report outages and stay up to date on restoration status. 

If a tree falls during a storm and poses an immediate safety threat, call 911. Otherwise, call the city’s non-emergency number 311. A crew of arborists from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is on-call to respond to tree emergencies. If a tree has fallen on electrical wires, please call PECO’s emergency line: (800) 841-4141. 

Safety Guidance for Residents
Residents are advised to: 

“Philadelphia is a resilient city,” Mayor Parker concluded at today’s press conference. “We have weathered storms before, and we will weather this one – working together. Let’s get through the next few days together as One Philly.” 

Note to Media: Photos documenting the City’s storm preparation and response efforts will available in a shared media album that will be continuously updated throughout the weather event. Media may download and use images at the following link, with credit to City of Philadelphia. 

The City will continue to provide updates throughout the duration of the storm. 

Stay Informed

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