Philadelphia on Sunday prepared for the city’s second major winter storm in less than a month.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for much of the region. Mayor Cherelle Parker declared a disaster emergency. Philadelphia public schools will operate virtually Monday. And city trash and recycling pickup will run at least two days behind schedule for the week.
Snow accumulation is forecasted in the 18-to-24 inch range, with the heaviest precipitation expected Sunday night into Monday morning, according to the NWS’s Mount Holly office. Wind gusts could reach 45 mph.
Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration has said it will rely more heavily on snow melting machines that are capable of eradicating 180 tons an hour. The municipal government will deploy two machines — up from one during last month’s snow — and may bring in a third, officials said Saturday night.
“They’re going to get a lot more use than they did from the previous storm,” added Carlton Williams, director of the city’s Office of Clean and Green Initiatives.
The Parker administration has said it spent at least $59 million responding to the storm that hit Jan. 25 and the prolonged freezing temperatures that followed. It used 15,000 tons of road salt and now has 25,000 tons in reserve, according to the mayor’s team.
A similar number of vehicles, more than 800, will be sent out to clear roadways, and crews will use snowblowers to clear corner sidewalk ramps, city officials said.
Once the snow begins, residents can visit an online dashboard, StreetSmartPHL, to check the last time a plow has been to their block.
SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer warned of "significant service disruptions," including "likely shutdowns of routes and entire modes of travel."
Essential workers and others who have to travel on public transit during the storm are advised to use the Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines, if possible.
People can call 911 to report fallen trees that pose an immediate safety threat and should contact PECO’s emergency line at 800-841-4141 if a limb falls on electrical wires. Non-emergency tree issues can be logged through 311.
Trash and recycling collection will be suspended Monday and Tuesday, and the schedule will be delayed two days for the remainder of the week. No rear driveway or second trash pickup will happen this week, the Parker administration stated.
Parker said the city will go into a snow emergency Sunday at 4 p.m., meaning drivers are not allowed to park on the 110 miles of road designated as snow emergency routes. Anyone whose vehicle is towed can call 215-686-SNOW or go to philapark.org/tow to find its location.
The Philadelphia Parking Authority said it will not enforce meter or time-limited parking from 4 p.m. Sunday until the end of the snow emergency.
All municipal offices will be closed Monday, as will the First Judicial District, meaning anyone summoned for jury duty is excused and does not need to report.
