Philadelphia Ditches Snow Emergency, but Frigid Temps Complicate Cleanup Efforts
A city-wide snow emergency was lifted at dawn Tuesday, but residents are still facing hazardous road conditions as temperatures plummet. Although the snowstorm has passed, with 9.3 inches of accumulation recorded at Philadelphia International Airport, a new set of challenges is emerging in the form of bone-chilling cold.
According to officials, drivers can once again park along snow emergency routes, where crews had cleared roads for emergency vehicles during the storm. However, cleanup efforts are being hindered by an impending blast of frigid air that's expected to bring temperatures down to 21 degrees on Tuesday and a wind chill of -6 degrees at night.
"It's about to hit a deep freeze," said Carlton Williams, director of the city's Office of Clean & Green Initiatives. "It makes it that much more difficult to plow frozen materials."
City offices, courts, and schools are all closed today, with residents urged to stay home and avoid traveling on roads as much as possible. Despite the challenges, over 800 vehicles and snow removal equipment have been deployed since the weekend, with crews having melted nearly 900 tons of snow as of Monday afternoon.
In a bid to expedite cleanup efforts, Mayor Cherelle Parker had called for residential streets to be cleared earlier than in past snowstorms. However, it appears that crews are only aiming to make roads passable, leaving some areas still clogged with snow and ice. Motorists can check on the status of their relocated vehicles by calling (215) 686-7669.
Sunday's snowfall set a new daily record for January 25, according to the National Weather Service. As temperatures continue to plummet throughout the week, residents are advised to remain vigilant and plan accordingly to ensure a safe and speedy cleanup effort.
A city-wide snow emergency was lifted at dawn Tuesday, but residents are still facing hazardous road conditions as temperatures plummet. Although the snowstorm has passed, with 9.3 inches of accumulation recorded at Philadelphia International Airport, a new set of challenges is emerging in the form of bone-chilling cold.
According to officials, drivers can once again park along snow emergency routes, where crews had cleared roads for emergency vehicles during the storm. However, cleanup efforts are being hindered by an impending blast of frigid air that's expected to bring temperatures down to 21 degrees on Tuesday and a wind chill of -6 degrees at night.
"It's about to hit a deep freeze," said Carlton Williams, director of the city's Office of Clean & Green Initiatives. "It makes it that much more difficult to plow frozen materials."
City offices, courts, and schools are all closed today, with residents urged to stay home and avoid traveling on roads as much as possible. Despite the challenges, over 800 vehicles and snow removal equipment have been deployed since the weekend, with crews having melted nearly 900 tons of snow as of Monday afternoon.
In a bid to expedite cleanup efforts, Mayor Cherelle Parker had called for residential streets to be cleared earlier than in past snowstorms. However, it appears that crews are only aiming to make roads passable, leaving some areas still clogged with snow and ice. Motorists can check on the status of their relocated vehicles by calling (215) 686-7669.
Sunday's snowfall set a new daily record for January 25, according to the National Weather Service. As temperatures continue to plummet throughout the week, residents are advised to remain vigilant and plan accordingly to ensure a safe and speedy cleanup effort.
. I've been stuck at home all day 'cause of the cold, and I just saw on the news that crews only cleared roads so they're not super slippery... like what's the point of a road if it's still gonna be icy? 
I heard some people say they're doing their best with the equipment they have, but 900 tons of snow is still a lot to deal with 
. I'm not sure how much longer these crews can keep up with this... I just hope everyone stays safe and gets through this cold snap soon 
i mean, crews r workin hard but it's like, they're stuck in between cleaning the snow & melting the ice 
i got a friend who lives in philly and she's still driving around because roads r kinda clear, but i'm like "girl, be careful!" 
. And now they're saying it's gonna get even colder? Not good 
. I feel bad for the crews trying to clean up, though 
.
I've been stuck inside for days now and I just wanna get back to normal life 
This is so frustrating...
! 800+ vehicles deployed already? That's some serious snow-clearing power 
. Can't say I blame them for not wanna travel today tho, roads are still super sketchy 
the mayor said we'd be done by now lol 21 degrees is COLD 
gotta stay home & safe today 
I'm thinking... a city-wide snow emergency lifted but hazardous road conditions still linger... it's like we're caught between two extremes - the storm is over, but its aftereffects are just beginning 
I guess that's what this snow-covered city is telling me right now - we're all just trying to navigate through the mess, one shovel at a time 
u no wot dis? d city thinks its all cool cuz dey lifted da snow emergency but did they think thru da fact dat dey got like -6 degree wind chill comin thru?? its gonna make cleanup efforts 100x harder 
. hope everyone stays warm & safe out there! btw, did anyone else see that funny cat video on TikTok 
?
Still can't believe all that snow in Philly... they gotta make roads passable or else people will be stuck like crazy 
️
like what even is snow emergency if u cant clear it? 
. anyway, stay warm out there, philly! 