The Philadelphia region has experienced approximately 9.3 inches of total snowfall, along with sleet, ice, and freezing rain, all within a span of less than 12 hours. That’s the most snow we have experienced in Philadelphia in 10 years. Expect hazardous travel conditions, gusty winds, below-freezing temperatures, and potential icing through next week. These conditions could lead to delays, closures, and disruptions throughout the city.  

The Snow Emergency has been lifted

The City of Philadelphia’s Snow Emergency declaration was lifted at 6 a.m. Tuesday, January 27. This means that vehicles can once again park on Snow Emergency routes. If your vehicle was relocated during the Snow Emergency, call 215-686-SNOW (7669), and press option 4, to find it. Do not call 911.

As part of Mayor’s Parker’s vision for clean, green, and safe streets, she has directed that tertiary and residential streets be treated earlier than in past snowstorms. Residential streets are being serviced along with primary and secondary roads to make sure all roads are safe to travel citywide. Our goal is to make roads passable and return the city back to normal operations as quickly as possible. This does not mean roads will be completely clear of snow and ice, but made passable for safe traveling. Reminders for residents:

• Do not shovel or plow snow into the street. This practice is illegal, unsafe and hinders snow operations. The penalty for violating this can range from $50 to $300 for each violation. 
• Keep fire hydrants clear. Shovel 36 -60 inches around your block’s hydrant so firefighters can gain access safely during an emergency response. 
• Clear a sidewalk path at least 36 inches wide within six hours of the end of the storm. 
• Clear snow from neighborhood sewer drains to allow melting snow to drain. 
• Allow extra time if you have to drive; exercise patience and maintain safe driving distances. 
• Check in on your neighbors, especially those at risk.
  

Residents can sign up for free emergency alerts and weather updates from ReadyPhiladelphia by texting READYPHILA to 888-777 for free phone alerts. Or, customize free text and email alerts by signing up for emergency alerts online.

Service updates

PlowPHL

Residents can use PlowPHL, an interactive map, to track and monitor the status of the City’s plowing and salting operations. PlowPHL is a web mapping tool on the StreetSmartPHL platform. 

Trash and recycling collections

 Sanitation crews and equipment will be diverted to snow operations. All trash and recycling collections are canceled on Monday, January 26. Trash and recycling collections will be one day behind for the rest of the week. We thank residents for their cooperation. We ask residents for  their continued patience as crews navigate through the snow, ice and frigid temperatures. 

• As an alternative, residents may drop off their materials at the City’s Sanitation Convenience Centers, which are open for regular hours, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Residents can track the progress of collections on StreetSmartPHL by clicking the PickupPHL tab. 
• There will be no collections in rear driveways. Residents are instructed to set their materials out in front of their homes for pickup during the week of January 26. With the expectation of significant snow accumulation and severe cold and ice, there is an increased risk of Sanitation trucks becoming stuck in the snow in rear driveways.   
• Second trash collection is suspended in areas of the city that typically receive it during the week of January 26. There will be one collection for trash and recycling throughout the week.  

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:   

• Let a faucet run at a trickle overnight during extremely cold weather.  
• Keep the area around a water meter above 40 degrees Fahrenheit and cover and drafty or cracked windows near exposed pipes.  
• Check water faucets for water flow and pressure before retiring for the night and again in the morning. The first sign of freezing is reduced water flow from a faucet.  

If you have had frozen pipes before or have exposed pipes in an area you cannot keep above 40F, let your faucet run at a trickle overnight when temperatures are below freezing for two days or more. Read all about frozen pipes from the Philadelphia Water Department.  

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. You can also visit peco.com/alerts to sign up to get updates on your energy usage and information about 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 report power outages to peco.com/outages or by texting “ADDOUTAGE” to MYPECO (697326), to enroll in two-way texting to report outages and check the status of an outage.

311 Call Center

Requests will be processed when the snow operation is completed. Any inquiries made throughout the storm will be in a queue and addressed in order. Servicing service requests 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 online portal, the mobile app, an email to philly311@phila.gov, or phone call (311). We recommend using the app so that you can share pictures with your report.

Homeless outreach & warming centers

With below freezing temperatures, the Office of Homeless Services is operating in Enhanced Code Blue status, which will remain in effect until further notice. During this Enhanced Code Blue, Philadelphia’s homeless outreach teams will continue to patrol the streets with greater urgency, encouraging people experiencing homelessness to come indoors and avoid prolonged exposure to the elements amid dangerously cold temperatures. People do not need ID to enter shelters and can stay indoors throughout the duration of the Code Blue. Outreach is available 24/7. Find more information about how the City of Philadelphia helps people who are unsheltered during freezing temperatures.

In addition to the shelter system, 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. A frequently updated map and list is available at phila.gov/GetWarm. 

Philadelphia Department of Public Health

All City Health Centers are open and operating as normal on Wednesday, January 28.

SEPTA 

• All Metro service has been restored.
  
• Bus service is being restored line-by-line as conditions allow. Please check your individual route status at http://SEPTA.org/alerts for details.
• Regional Rail service will resume the morning of Tuesday, the 27th and will follow a Saturday schedule. Beginning Wednesday, January 28 Regional Rail will operate on a normal weekday schedule.

Get the latest updates from SEPTA.

Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA)

The 24-hour $5 snow emergency garage rate has ended. Beginning at 9:00am Wednesday, January 28 all PPA garages will return to their standard rates. If your vehicle was relocated during the snow emergency, you can call 215-686-SNOW or visit http://philapark.org/tow. to find its location.

PHL International Airport

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. The airport has snow removal and deicing operations planned for the duration of the event. 

Downed Trees

If a tree falls during a storm and it’s blocking a road, or it has fallen on a house, car or other property, call 911. A crew of arborists from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation are on-call to respond to tree emergencies and will come out to remove the hazard and any part of the tree that is an immediate risk to public safety. Other parts of the tree that don’t pose an immediate risk (such as tree trunks and stumps) will be removed at a later time so crews can focus on other safety hazards around the city during extreme weather events. If a tree has fallen on electrical wires, please call PECO’s emergency line: 1 (800) 841-4141. For other non-emergency downed trees, residents can submit a request through Philly 311. Learn more about how to report downed trees.

Free Libraries

Select Free Library locations also operate as daytime warming centers. The locations are on the City of Philadelphia’s warming site map.

City Offices and Courts

City of Philadelphia administrative office buildings and Courts will be open and operating under normal conditions on Wednesday, January 28.

The Courts of Philadelphia will open Wednesday January 28. All matters in the Trial Division, including remote proceedings in the Civil-Trial Division, Orphans Court, Family Court and Municipal Court that were canceled because of the snow emergency will be rescheduled by their respective Court Divisions. The public can contact the Court at Courts.phila.gov for new dates.

If you have been summoned for Jury Duty, you are expected to report on Wednesday, January 28.

School District of Philadelphia

The School District of Philadelphia will return to in-person operations Thursday, January 29.

Get the latest updates from the School District of Philadelphia.

Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Department of Prisons

Due to the winter storm, in-person visitations of incarcerated individuals have been canceled at all Philadelphia Department of Prisons facilities on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

Updates and additional information about visiting an incarcerated person can be found on Department of Prisons website.

Pet safety awareness

Residents should contact the ACCT Philly hotline at (267) 385-3800 ext. 1 if they see a dog outside during 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.