What a ‘Code Blue’ means for Philly residents
When temperatures feel near or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, Philadelphia officials will declare a Code Blue. Here’s what that means, and how you can help.
4 years ago
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The winter storm warning has expired. The snowstorm has ended. And the streets are being plowed under the clearing skies across the Philadelphia region. Some light bands of snow may continue for the next few hours, but National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Lee said the heavy snow has moved on.
“In terms of how much we got, around the region, largely around the Philadelphia area, it looks like two to four inches of snow,” Lee told WHYY News in a phone interview. “The really impressive amounts are much further north, out towards Allentown, and portions of Somerset and Middlesex counties in New Jersey.”
He said portions of the Lehigh Valley and Central and North Jersey received upwards of a foot of snow from the storm.
Lee said the rest of today should be relatively dry for the Philadelphia area although points north and west, like the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, could potentially experience a couple of light snow showers in the afternoon.”
Temperatures in Philly are expected to climb into the upper 30s under partly sunny skies.
“For tonight it’s going to be fairly cold,” said Lee. “So any snow that does melt today potentially could refreeze on untreated surfaces.”
Lee said the rest of the weekend should be fairly quiet and sunny through mid-week, but after that, questions remain.
“Our next storm system is on Friday, but that’s a little too early to tell exactly what’s going to come of it,” he said. “Right now it looks like mostly rain, but we’ll keep an eye on it.”
On Friday the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services issued a Code Blue alert that is scheduled to remain in effect until Tuesday, February 20 at 9 a.m.
A Code Blue is declared when winter weather poses a threat of serious harm or death to people living outside. Counties can also issue a Code Blue when temperatures are forecast to drop below 20 degrees for more than two successive days.
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