PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The first major snowstorm of the year for the region is causing a number of closures and restrictions in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Some parts of the region could see another foot of snow on top of the inches that came overnight.
A winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the entire Philadelphia region, through Tuesday at 10 a.m.
New Jersey is in a state of emergency. NJ Transit is suspending all service, with the exception of the Atlantic City Rail Line, which will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
Philadelphia has declared a snow emergency, running through 10 a.m. Tuesday. That means all parked vehicles must be moved off of snow emergency routes for plowing. Vehicles left behind could be towed.
The Philadelphia Parking Authority says they are implementing a $5 flat rate on parking garages and relaxing enforcement during the snow emergency.
Road conditions and transit
Plow and salt truck drivers have been on the road since Sunday night, and they will remain out and about for the foreseeable future as they try to keep roads clear.
Tynell, who is salting roads in Delaware County, said he is in it for the long haul, and he prepared for it.
"My wife, she packed up a couple things for me. I have a couple sandwiches, snacks a bunch of water," he said.
Related
Drivers may be a little rusty in a winter storm. NBC 10 First Alert meteorologist Krystal Klei said it's important to pay attention to the roads if you need to be out.
"It's nice and cold so the ground is prepped for snow to stick. Untreated roads pretty easily may start to get slippery as well as this starts to come down," she cautioned.
AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Jana Tidwell has some refresher tips. The first thing drivers must do, according to Pennsylvania law, is to clear all the snow and ice off of the vehicle before heading out of the neighborhood.
"Make sure you increase your following distance between all vehicles around you, especially those road crews that are out there. Give yourself at least six car lengths to stay behind those road crews so they have the space to do their job," Tidwell said.
And, she advises: Stay in the plowed or salted lanes of the road, and avoid changing lanes if possible, because there's no way of knowing if there's ice under the snow.
With the pandemic putting a damper on travel, Tidwell said drivers have become accustomed to not seeing delays and backups on highways. However, with the winter storm, drivers will need to build in some extra time to get to their destinations.
For public transit commuters who have to brave the storm on Monday, both SEPTA and PATCO are encouraging riders to check their Twitter accounts and their websites regularly for any updates.
SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer expects more challenges as the storm intensifies.
“We expect our suburban bus routes to be most heavily affected, particularly out in the greater northern and western part of the suburbs. We expect suspensions of service and more detours as the day goes on,” he said, adding Regional Rail lines will also be impacted as the heavy, wet snow can bring down overhead power lines.
Wind gusts could reach or exceed 30 to 40 miles per hour in areas around Philly, with even stronger winds down the shore, where moderate coastal flooding is possible. According to Klei, the biggest impact will be Monday afternoon.
"That storm may start to weaken Monday evening into Tuesday evening as the storm starts to move off to our northeast. And the result is that we just have some lingering snow showers Tuesday," she predicted. When all is said and done, Klei said the city could see 6 to 10 inches of snow, with even more in areas north and west of the city.
"Areas north of Philadelphia into the suburbs, areas like Montgomery County, have a better chance of seeing that 10- to 16-inch range for snow totals. And of course, lower amounts further south where more rain is likely to mix in," she said.
Philadelphia International Airport Chief Operating Officer Keith Brune said runways and roadways are clear, but airlines have canceled at least 100 flights.
“If you are coming to the airport or if you’re picking somebody up, please check with your airline for the current flight status,” he advised.
Brune said 400 staff and contractors are standing by to keep runways clear through the next phase of the storm.
Philly-area schools
Philadelphia Archdiocesan schools are closed, though Catholic high schools will have a virtual flexible instruction day Monday and Tuesday.
All School District of Philadelphia buildings are closed, but students will not have a snow day. All online learning will continue Monday and Tuesday. KYW Newsradio has a full list of school announcements online.
COVID-19 testing and vaccinations
The storm is bringing coronavirus testing and vaccinations to a screeching halt.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is working to reschedule appointments because city-run testing and vaccination sites are closed for the day. Health officials say that anyone with an appointment at a site not run by the city should call those facilities ahead of time to confirm.
In Delaware County, the courthouse and government center will be closed, and people with appointments for vaccinations on Monday will be contacted to reschedule.
Montgomery County has closed all county COVID-19 testing sites for the day. Officials expect to reopen them on Tuesday, weather permitting.
The COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Montgomery County Community College will be closed as well. Those registered for appointments will be automatically rescheduled for Norristown High School on Feb. 5. Emails noting the changes have already gone out. People with Tuesday appointments will be contacted on Monday by email.
In New Jersey, the Camden County COVID-19 vaccination center is canceling all appointments scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Those with appointments will need to manually reschedule.
Other city services
All courts and offices in Philadelphia's First Judicial District are closed on Monday. There will be no trash or recycling pickup in Philadelphia on Monday. Anyone with Monday trash pickup must wait a week to have their garbage collected.
The overall message from Philadelphia officials: Stay home through the storm and exercise extreme caution if you do need to go out.
“Over 450 pieces of equipment, including support from other city agencies and private contractors, have been mobilized,” said Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams. “Crews began brining over the weekend, and we have 50,000 tons of salt available for this event.”
Crews are now preparing for the next round. As usual, he said, residential streets will be plowed only after main roads are cleared.
“Our goal is to make roads as passable and return the city to normal operations as quickly as possible,” he added. “This does not mean our roads will be completely clear of snow and ice but are passable for safe traveling.”
The Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services is urging homeless people to seek shelter during the storm. Director Liz Hersh said the city has beds for men, women and families, and they are taking COVID-19 precautions.
“We do refer people to medical care if they have symptoms or for testing if they’ve been exposed. We do maintain social distancing, bed barriers, grab-and-go meals, and access to hand-washing and other kinds of hygiene that we all exercise,” she described.
Hersh said extra outreach teams are on the street, but she asks anyone who sees an unsheltered person to call the city’s homeless hotline at 215-232-1984.