Bitter cold continues to dominate Lower Bucks County and the Philadelphia region, with a cold weather advisory in effect through 10 a.m. Wednesday. Temperatures remain locked in the mid-20s, while wind chills make conditions feel closer to 10 to 12 degrees. The pattern began early Tuesday, when some locations experienced subzero wind chills, and daytime temperatures failed to rise above the mid-20s even during the warmest hours.
Forecasters expect these conditions to persist throughout the week. The sustained arctic air mass follows Sunday’s snowstorm, which delivered 9.3 inches of snow at Philadelphia International Airport, the largest snowfall in the region in a decade. That total exceeded the previous January 25 record of 8.5 inches, set in 2000. The last storm to exceed this amount was the January 2016 blizzard, which produced 22.4 inches. With temperatures remaining well below freezing, snow and ice from Sunday’s storm are not expected to melt, leaving roads treacherous and sidewalks impassable in many areas.
The cold is expected to intensify over the coming days. The forecast for the final five days of January shows an average temperature of 13.2 degrees, which would be the coldest final five-day period of January ever recorded if it holds. Conditions may worsen before any improvement, as Thursday through Saturday are projected to bring daytime highs only in the teens and overnight lows in the single digits, creating the coldest five-day stretch in more than 30 years.
In response to the prolonged low temperatures, Philadelphia has activated an Enhanced Code Blue alert, which is used when frigid conditions last more than three consecutive nights. The city has opened multiple warming centers that are free and open to the public.
Alongside the extreme cold, forecasters are tracking the potential for another storm system late in the week. Weather models show a storm present late Saturday into Sunday, with attention focused on whether it will track close enough to the coast to affect Lower Bucks County and surrounding areas. As of Tuesday morning, models indicated snow along the coast and light snow potential inland, though the forecast remains subject to change. Meteorologists state that the winter pattern requires continued monitoring for the possibility of another major snow event.
For residents facing heating challenges, resources remain available. Philadelphia’s Enhanced Code Blue warming centers can be located through the city’s emergency management website, and assistance can be requested by calling 215-232-1984. In Bucks County, Code Blue alerts are issued whenever temperatures fall below 20 degrees. Shelter information is maintained through the Housing Link website, and residents can access help by calling 211 or texting their ZIP code to 898-211.
Forecasters say dangerous cold conditions will continue through the week, with little relief expected before the weekend. The potential weekend storm adds further risk, especially with large amounts of snow still on the ground from Sunday’s storm.
Residents are advised to limit time outdoors, dress in layers when going outside, and check on elderly neighbors and relatives who may be especially vulnerable to the extreme cold.
