Philadelphia Declares Snow Emergency Ahead Of Major Winter Storm

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Mayor Cherelle Parker declared a Snow Emergency for the City of Philadelphia, effective at 4 p.m. Sunday. The announcement came in response to National Weather Service forecasts predicting heavy, wet snow, high winds, and snowfall rates potentially reaching two inches per hour.

City agencies and partners have prepared and are ready to manage the storm, aiming to clear streets and ensure safety using all available tactics and strategies. Officials said the city will use every tool in its snow-fighting efforts, including snow melters and snow blowers for tight areas, such as ADA ramps and bike lanes.

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A formal Snow Emergency in Philadelphia activates specific parking and traffic regulations. Residents must remove vehicles from designated Snow Emergency Routes to allow for efficient plowing and treatment of major roadways.

A list of Snow Emergency Routes is available online here.

During the Snow Emergency, the PPA will enforce all snow emergency routes and safety violations:

• Vehicles illegally parked on snow emergency routes will be subject to ticketing and towing. If your vehicle is towed, call the city’s Snow Emergency line at 215-686-SNOW or online here to find its location.
• Beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, meter/kiosk and time limit violations on residential blocks will not be enforced until the Snow Emergency is lifted.

The Streets Department plans a full deployment of over 800 pieces of equipment and more than 1,000 employees. The city has 25,000 tons of salt reserved for the storm.

The "One Philly, A United City" initiative will guide the coordinated response across city departments, utilities, and transit agencies. This approach ensures resources are mobilized to protect residents and restore services efficiently. The Office of Homeless Services will activate a Code Blue alert at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Due to the anticipated snowfall, sanitation and recycling collections are suspended for Monday and Tuesday. A two-day delay in collections will follow for the rest of the week. Residents who can’t hold their materials can drop them off at one of the city’s six locations, open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. A list of sites is available online here.

All administrative office buildings and courts are closed to the public on Monday.

The School District of Philadelphia will close all school buildings, with classes operating virtually.

The First Judicial District will also close all courts and offices on Monday.

Residents can track snow removal efforts using the interactive PlowPHL tool.

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 violations.

Businesses 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.

The Philadelphia Parking Authority is offering discounted parking at select Center City garages to encourage residents to move vehicles from snow routes. 24-hour $5 discounted parking rates are available at:

• AutoPark at Independence Mall (5th & Market Streets)
• AutoPark at Jefferson (10th & Ludlow Streets)
• AutoPark at the Fashion District (10th & Filbert Streets)
• AutoPark at Old City (2nd & Sansom Streets)
• Parkade on 8th (801 Filbert Street)

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

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.

SEPTA is enacting its winter storm plan in response to the forecast. Service updates will be posted in real-time online here and on X @SEPTA. Customer service representatives are also available by phone at 215-580-7800. SEPTA will restore suspended services post-storm as soon as it is safe to do so.

Customers can report power outages to PECO online here. If a tree falls during a storm and poses an immediate safety threat, call 911. Otherwise, call the city’s non-emergency number, 311. If a tree has fallen on electrical wires, please call PECO’s emergency line at 800-841-4141. Learn more about how to report downed trees.

Travelers going to and from the Philadelphia International Airport, and those picking up travelers, are encouraged to check their flight status and road conditions before leaving for the airport Sunday and Monday. Call airlines, get updates at the airport website. The airport has snow removal planned for the duration of the storm.