How Much More Snow Is Philly Going to Get?
The final snowfall forecast from the National Weather Service for this storm.
The good news: The snow is eventually going to end. The bad news: It’s not going to be over until very late tonight.
The National Weather Service just released its latest update on the snowfall. The city of Philadelphia will continue to get snow for the next few hours, with the weather finally ending sometime between 9 and midnight. Philadelphia will have perhaps two feet of snow by the time the storm ends.
The National Weather Service, in its 5 p.m. storm briefing, says snowfall in the region will be from 18 to 30 inches, with some areas getting as much as three feet of snow. The South Jersey shore will get moderate to major flooding. Wind gusts of 55 miles per hour are expected at the shore, with gusts of 30 to 45 miles per hour inland.
Measurements taken at 1 p.m. show Philadelphia has received 17.7 inches of snow, among the top-10 biggest snowstorms of all time in the city.
A snow emergency remains in effect in Philadelphia. Residents are urged to stay inside their homes; cars still are banned from parking on snow emergency routes or risk being towed. A 45 mile per hour speed limit remains in effect on I-95, I-676, I-76 and I-476. (You should probably drive slower than that anyway.)
Two numbers to continue to keep in mind:
- Project HOME, 215-232-1984. Anyone who sees a homeless person sleeping on the street during the storm should call this number. They’ll be asked for a description of the person and the location.
- ACCT, 267-385-3800. It is against the law to leave an animal tied up outside in the snow or extreme cold. There is a $500 fine for residents who do this. People who see animals tied up outside in the show should call ACCT.
Once the snow ends, residents are required to shovel at least a 3-foot-wide pathway on their sidewalks. Mayor Jim Kenney asked residents to clear storm drains if they can, as it will make it easier for water to drain when the snow melts next week.
Couple slight problems on Massachusetts Ave in Atlantic City: Trunk open and boats higher than the street. pic.twitter.com/a7oNBwjO42
— Jitney Guy (@JitneyGuy) January 23, 2016
Down the shore, flooding exceeded levels seen during Hurricane Sandy. NBC 10 reported that a meteorologist in South Allentown, Pennsylvania, measured 31 inches of snowfall.
SEPTA service remains shut down, except for the Market-Frankford El and the Broad Street Subway. Selected service is expected to resume at 4 a.m. Sunday. PHL Airport shut down all flights today as well; the airport will be open tomorrow. Those flying should check with the carrier.
