PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The drought is over. After 715 days without significant snowfall, the Philadelphia region got several inches overnight.
Philadelphia International Airport measured 3.3 inches of snow. Bethel Township in Delaware County led snow totals with 4 inches. Norristown, Montgomery County, came up right behind it with 3.9 inches. About 2.5 inches fell overnight in King of Prussia.
While many suburban schools closed or opened late, and Archdiocese schools were closed, Philadelphia public schools opened on a regular schedule, a decision that irked the principals and teachers unions.
Schools throughout the region reported plans for delayed openings, reduced operations, online instruction and closings for Wednesday.
Get details on school closings and delayed openings here.
The snow was beautiful, even fun, for a while, but as the day wore on, continuing snowfall, sleet and freezing rain made for slick conditions and travel disruptions.
According to a special statement from the National Weather Service, air from the Arctic is spreading out over southeast Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the eastern shores of Maryland and Delaware. Temperatures will drop into the single digits and low teens through the night. Any standing water on untreated roads will freeze and roads will become icy.
On sidewalks that have not been shoveled, where footprints turn to ice, conditions can get treacherous and downright dangerous for pedestrians.
According to the Philadelphia Streets Department, the minimum fine for Philadelphia homeowners for not shoveling their front walks is $50 — and they can go as high as $300 for each violation.
Sidewalk snow removal rules can be found on Phila.gov.
Looking ahead, the forecast calls for more snow on Friday.
Meanwhile, drivers are advised to be extremely cautious.
🎧 Live updates: Traffic on the Twos
Transit tips
SEPTA has been experiencing delays and detours since Monday night.
"We're advising our customers to allow for extra time for their travel, both for their safety and also because some of our services are running with delays," spokesperson Andrew Bush said. "So we are running everything with some minor adjustments."
He says SEPTA is monitoring overhead power lines for trolleys and regional rail lines to protect against freezing.
Get SEPTA alerts and advisories here.
Safe driving tips
AAA Mid-Atlantic encourages drivers to keep a snow emergency kit in their cars, in case of getting stuck or stranded or waiting for help. And if they already have a kit, make sure it’s stocked.
“People get out of practice, especially during that first snow of the season,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Jana Tidwell.
Snow emergency kit:
❄ Shovel
❄ Road traction material, e.g., bag of sand or cat litter
❄ Flashlights and batteries
❄ Blankets, sweatshirts, gloves
❄ Nonperishable food
❄ Drinking water
If possible, drivers should stay off the roads during a winter storm altogether. Tidwell said AAA experiences an increase in calls for roadside assistance during winter weather events. Priority is given to those stranded in the most dangerous conditions.
Drivers who must hit the road are advised to slow down and allow plenty of distance from other vehicles.
"If you have to brake, please don’t slam on your brakes," Tidwell advised. "Brake gradually. Having room between the cars around you will give you the room to do that. Be very careful on- and off-ramps, as they have a tendency to freeze over before the roads do.
"Primarily, we want to give road crews and emergency responders the room they need to do their jobs — to clear the roads, to help any stranded motorists who are out there. So if you can stay off the roads during this kind of weather event, please do so for your safety and the safety of others."
KYW's Tim Jimenez, Jim Melwert, Conner Barkon, John McDevitt, Justin Udo and Nina Baratti contributed to this report.