The Philadelphia region is moving directly from a record-setting winter storm into a prolonged period of Arctic cold that will dominate the end of January and the beginning of February. The storm began early Sunday morning and delivered heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, widespread shutdowns, and emergency declarations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, followed by a deep freeze that forecasters say will keep snow on the ground for 7 to 10 days.
Temperatures are falling sharply, with daytime highs expected to remain in the low 20s through the middle of next week and overnight lows dropping into the single digits and below zero. Wind chills will remain in the single digits, with morning wind chills falling below zero most days. Meteorologists state the region will end January and begin February in bitter cold, with prolonged freezing conditions preventing melting.
The storm set a new daily snowfall record in Philadelphia. At Philadelphia International Airport, the city’s official weather reporting station, 9.3 inches of snow were recorded, breaking the previous daily record of 8.5 inches set in 2000 and becoming the most snow the city has received in a decade. The last storm to exceed this total occurred in January 2016, when 22.4 inches were recorded. The top snowstorms of the past decade are 22.4 inches in January 2016, 9.1 inches in January 2026, 7.6 inches in March 2018, and 7.5 inches in January 2022.
The system was part of a national weather event affecting nearly 180 million people, more than half of the U.S. population, according to the National Weather Service. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain spread across large portions of the country. The National Weather Service Mount Holly office reported that heavy snow and sleet were followed by freezing rain and 20- to 30-mph wind gusts, creating conditions that caused downed trees, power outages, and dangerous or impossible travel.
Snow across the Philadelphia region transitioned to sleet and freezing rain Sunday afternoon across Delmarva, South Jersey, and the I-95 corridor. Ice accumulations of 0.1 to 0.25 inches were reported across the I-95 corridor, South Jersey, and central and northern Delaware, with isolated power outages. Forecasters showed additional mixing farther north. Forecast maps indicated Philadelphia could receive between 8 and 10 inches of snow, with regional totals ranging from 3 to 14 inches.
Snowfall totals across the region were reported as follows:
Philadelphia
- Philadelphia International Airport – 7.4 inches (1 p.m.)
- Ben Franklin Bridge – 6.6 inches (1 p.m.)
- Rittenhouse Square – 5 inches (11:45 a.m.)
Pennsylvania
- Berks County
- Mertztown – 9.9 inches (1:35 p.m.)
- Reading Regional Airport – 8.4 inches (1 p.m.)
- Reading – 7 inches (12:39 p.m.)
- Huffs Church – 8 inches (11 a.m.)
- Bucks County
- Hilltown Twp. – 6.5 inches (1 p.m.)
- Levittown – 7.1 inches (1:53 p.m.)
- Furlong – 7.3 inches (12:30 p.m.)
- Chalfont – 7.1 inches (12:30 p.m.)
- Northampton Twp. – 6.6 inches (12 p.m.)
- Chester County
- East Coventry Twp. – 8 inches (12:10 p.m.)
- East Whiteland Twp. – 6 inches (11:17 a.m.)
- South Pottstown – 7 inches (11:15 a.m.)
- Delaware County
- Garnet Valley – 7 inches (12:30 p.m.)
- Lehigh County
- New Tripoli – 10.5 inches (2 p.m.)
- Center Valley – 9.5 inches (12:45 p.m.)
- Salisbury Twp. – 9.4 inches (1:30 p.m.)
- Coopersburg – 8.1 inches (11:45 a.m.)
- Montgomery County
- Pottstown – 9.5 inches (1 p.m.)
- Lower Pottsgrove Twp. – 8.5 inches (1 p.m.)
- Norristown – 8.7 inches (12:30 p.m.)
- Trappe – 8 inches (12:30 p.m.)
- New Hanover Twp. – 8.3 inches (12:20 p.m.)
- Glenside – 7 inches (12:15 p.m.)
- Ambler – 7 inches (12 p.m.)
- King of Prussia – 6.9 inches (12 p.m.)
- Upper Providence Twp. – 6.5 inches (12:09 p.m.)
- Salford Twp. – 7 inches (12 p.m.)
- Eagleville – 6.2 inches (11:15 a.m.)
New Jersey
- Atlantic County
- Atlantic City International Airport – 5.9 inches (1 p.m.)
- Hammonton – 6 inches (11:15 a.m.)
- Burlington County
- Leisuretowne – 4.7 inches (1:25 p.m.)
- Rancocas – 6.3 inches (12:45 p.m.)
- Mount Holly WFO – 6.6 inches (1 p.m.)
- South Jersey Regional – 6.6 inches (11:40 a.m.)
- Tabernacle – 6.5 inches (11:30 a.m.)
- Medford Twp. – 5.6 inches (11:53 a.m.)
- Cinnaminson – 5.6 inches (11:45 a.m.)
- Camden County
- Mt. Ephraim – 7 inches (11:40 a.m.)
- Lindenwold – 5.8 inches (11:15 a.m.)
- Cape May County
- Ocean City – 6 inches (11:30 a.m.)
- Gloucester County
- Malaga – 7 inches (1 p.m.)
- Pitman – 7 inches (11:25 a.m.)
- Mercer County
- Trenton Mercer Airport – 7.2 inches (1 p.m.)
- Hamilton Twp. – 5.3 inches (12:15 p.m.)
- Ocean County
- Bayville – 8 inches (1:30 p.m.)
- Forked River – 6 inches (12:40 p.m.)
- Toms River – 4.5 inches (11:15 a.m.)
Delaware
- Kent County
- Dover Air Force Base – 6.5 inches (11:55 a.m.)
- New Castle County
- New Castle County Airport – 5.5 inches (1 p.m.)
- Hockessin – 6.8 inches (12:30 p.m.)
- Odessa – 6.5 inches (12:30 p.m.)
- Wilmington – 6.5 inches (11:20 a.m.)
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through 1 p.m. Monday, with heavy and mixed precipitation and ice accumulations aof round three-tenths of an inch. Emergency declarations are active across the region: a snow emergency in Philadelphia, a disaster emergency in Pennsylvania, and states of emergency in New Jersey and Delaware.
Philadelphia has activated an Enhanced Code Blue, which occurs when a Code Blue lasts more than three nights in a row. The city is operating 24-hour outreach, providing transportation to indoor shelters, opening all available beds in the emergency housing network, and running multiple warming centers across the city, including some open 24 hours a day. Anyone who sees someone in need can call 215-232-1984 for outreach and transportation. Cold-weather shelter services are active across the region, including Code Blue and Code Purple programs in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, county-based Code Blue alerts in New Jersey, and Code Purple shelters in Delaware serving New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties.
The City of Philadelphia continues coordinated storm operations. As of 1 p.m., 7.4 inches had been recorded at Philadelphia International Airport, the city’s largest snowfall in five years. City departments and partner agencies have operated around the clock since the storm began.
During a press conference, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said, “Snow began falling in the early morning hours, and our teams were fully deployed before the first flakes hit the ground. We are continuing 24-hour operations to keep major roads clear, maintain critical services, and protect our most vulnerable residents. I urge everyone to stay off the roads if you can, follow the Snow Emergency regulations, and look out for one another.”
The city’s Snow Emergency, declared Saturday at 9 p.m., remains in effect. Parking is prohibited on Snow Emergency Routes, vehicles blocking routes may be ticketed and towed, and travel is limited to essential purposes. The Streets Department mobilized approximately 600 pieces of equipment, and more than 1,000 city employees are working continuously to clear snow and sleet from streets and roadways.
PennDOT reduced speed limits to 45 mph on Interstates 76, 95, 295, 476, and 676; U.S. Routes 1, 30, 202, and 422; and State Routes 63, 100 Spur, and 309. Tier 4 vehicle restrictions prohibit commercial vehicles, school buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs and motorhomes, and passenger vehicles towing trailers. In Delaware, Level 2 driving restrictions are in effect in New Castle and Kent counties, allowing only essential workers on roadways.
Transit services are resuming in stages. SEPTA began gradually bringing services back on Monday morning after halting operations due to Sunday’s storm. Night owl buses were suspended overnight, and early Monday, officials announced that services were starting to resume across the city, with delays. SEPTA is operating under modified schedules. NJ Transit announced it would resume 21 bus routes by 10 a.m. Monday across North, Central, and South Jersey. The routes scheduled to resume are North Jersey routes 192, 193, 194, and 126; Central Jersey routes 21 and 25; and South Jersey routes 316, 319, 403, 404, 405, 408, 410, 412, 413, 419, 502, 551, 554, 605, and 606. These routes are operating on weekday schedules, with delays expected as roadway conditions continue to be addressed. Riders are directed to njtransit.com, the NJ TRANSIT mobile app, and the NJ TRANSIT X (Twitter) account for updates.
Rte 27: Service has resumed with service only on Ridge Avenue. Expect delays while full operations are restored.
— SEPTA (@SEPTA) January 26, 2026
Air travel is also reopening in phases. After closing and canceling all flights on Sunday, Lehigh Valley International Airport reopened to travelers on Monday. Airport officials said passengers should check with their individual airlines for any flight cancellations or delays. At Philadelphia International Airport, 651 of 672 scheduled flights were canceled on Sunday, and at least 80 flights were already canceled for Monday.
Travel Alert! ABE reopened to air traffic on Monday at 8 a.m. We encourage passengers to check with their airlines regarding any flight delays or cancellations. Snow operations continue on the airfield. pic.twitter.com/Nwe1gpA6MI
— ABE Airport (@FlyABE_) January 26, 2026
Snow cleanup led to fatalities in Lehigh County. In a Monday morning update, the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office reported that three people died on Sunday while engaged in “snow shoveling or snow removal” activities. All deaths were considered natural and involved individuals between 60 and 84 years of age. The coroner’s office stated the deaths were consistent with sudden medical events, often cardiac-related, that can occur with strenuous activity such as snow shoveling, particularly in older adults. The office advised people engaged in snow removal to take breaks, drink water, and avoid overexertion.
The School District of Philadelphia is closed on Monday, with Chromebooks sent home on Friday and virtual learning planned as needed. Archdiocesan high school and parochial elementary schools are using Flexible Instruction Days. Dozens of schools across the region are closed due to weather conditions.
Trash and recycling collection in Philadelphia is suspended on Monday, delayed one day for the rest of the week, with second collections suspended and sanitation convenience centers open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Courts are closed on Monday except for Orphans’ Court, which is operating virtually. Jury duty is canceled for Monday. In-person prison visits are canceled. Administrative buildings and health centers are closed to the public, with appointments rescheduled.
Residents and businesses are required to clear sidewalks within six hours after snowfall ends, maintain 36-inch-wide paths, clear curb ramps, keep fire hydrants and storm drains clear, and are prohibited from shoveling snow into streets. Violations can result in fines of $1,000 or more, and uncleared sidewalks can be reported to 311.
Meteorologists are monitoring the potential for another coastal storm late Saturday into Sunday. Models indicate a storm signal near the coast, raising the possibility of additional snowfall across the region.
