Winter storm ‘main show’ over in Philly region, but more snow expected; Delaware sees 10+ inches

Some schools in the Philadelphia area were closed Monday due to snow and its accompanying winter storm.

The School District of Philadelphia said Sunday it plans to hold classes Tuesday, and that any additional school closures due to inclement weather would be remote learning days.

Here’s what schools will be virtual or opening late Tuesday in New Jersey and Delaware, per WHYY News partner 6abc.

Delaware

• Appoquinimink School District (New Castle) — Closed, all virtual
• Brandywine School District – Wilmington (New Castle) — Opening two hours late
• Colonial School District – Delaware (New Castle) — Opening two hours late. No a.m. kindergarten
• Odyssey Charter School (New Castle) — Opening two hours late
• Thomas A. Edison Charter School (New Castle) — Opening two hours late

New Jersey

• Alloway Township School District (Salem) — Opening two hours late
• Amazing Place Learning Center (Gloucester) — Opening at 8:30 a.m.
• Atlantic Christian School (Atlantic) — Opening two hours late. Modified schedule
• Buena Regional School District (Atlantic) — Opening two hours late
• Clayton School District (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Clearview Regional School District (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Deptford Township School District (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Downe Township School District (Cumberland) — Opening two hours late
• Egg Harbor Township School District (Atlantic) — Opening two hours late
• Elsinboro Township School District (Salem) — Opening two hours late
• Estell Manor City School District (Atlantic) — Opening two hours late
• Fairfield Township School District (Cumberland) — Opening two hours late
• Gloucester County Special Services School (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Gloucester County Vocational School District (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Hamilton Township School District – Atlantic County (Atlantic) — Opening two hours late
• HollyDELL School (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Kingsway Regional High School District (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Logan Township School District (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Lower Alloways Creek Twp School Dist (Salem) — Opening two hours late
• Mantua Township School District (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Millville School District (Cumberland) — Opening two hours late
• Monroe Township Public Schools (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• National Park Borough School District (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Northfield City School District (Atlantic) — Opening two hours late
• Our Lady Of Mercy Academy (Gloucester) — Closed, all virtual
• Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional (Salem) — Modified schedule
• Pineland Learning Center (Cumberland) — Opening two hours late
• Pitman Public School District (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Salem City School District (Salem) — Opening two hours late
• St. Augustine Prep (Atlantic) — Closed, all virtual
• Swedesboro-Woolwich School District (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late
• Upper Deerfield Township School District (Cumberland) — Opening two hours late
• Vineland City School District (Cumberland) — Opening two hours late
• Washington Township School District (Gloucester) — Opening two hours late. Modified schedule
• Weymouth Township School District (Atlantic) — Opening two hours late
• Wildwood City School District (Cape May) — Opening two hours late

Snow days are few and far between. So it was a mild surprise when the Philadelphia School District announced over the weekend that it would offer a good, old-fashioned snow day due to a storm that was projected to start early Monday and continue into the night.

Comments under the school district’s social posts on the announcement were mostly pleased with the decision, and how much notice was given.

Dickinson Square Park in Pennsport served as one of the spots where people of all ages came out to enjoy the snow day, though some who brought their sleds expecting enough snow to have some fun were underwhelmed.

“This is a terrible neighborhood for sledding, but they don’t know any different. This is where they grew up, so they think it’s great,” said Jerusha Paige, who grew up in Harleysville in Montco and brought her daughters Leela and Daisy to the park. “I’m from a place with much bigger hills.”

» READ MORE: Snow days are rare these days, and some Philly parents embraced this one

The first winter storm of 2025 has brought moderate to heavy snowfall across the Delaware Valley, with parts of South Jersey and Delaware among the hardest hit.

Here are the latest snowfall reports from the National Weather Service, per WHYY News partner 6abc.

Philadelphia

• Philadelphia International Airport: 1.8 inches
• Center City: 1.2 inches

Pennsylvania

• Berwyn: 3.5 inches
• Bensalem: 2.1 inches
• Aston: 1.8 inches
• Phoenixville: 1.8 inches
• Exton: 1.5 inches

New Jersey

• Cape May: 8 inches
• Ocean City: 5 inches
• Atlantic City International Airport: 4 inches
• Millville: 3.5 inches

Delaware

• Georgetown: 12 inches
• Woodside: 7.3 inches
• Dover: 5.5 inches
• Glasgow: 2.7 inches
• Hockessin: 2 inches

Philadelphians should put their trash out on the usual day this week, despite the snowstorm.

City officials say sanitation collections will continue on their regular schedule, including in areas with twice-a-week pickup. Sanitation crews collected trash and recycling Monday even as city offices closed.

The Department of Sanitation asked for residents’ “patience as crews navigate through the inclement weather” in a statement Monday afternoon.

You can check the status of trash and recycling pickups on the city’s website.

Another dusting of snow is possible for parts of Philadelphia between 6 and 7 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service, although not at the rate seen earlier today.

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday for portions of South Jersey and Southeast Pennsylvania. Slippery road conditions are expected and areas of blowing snow could disrupt visibility for morning commuters.

As snow subsides in Philadelphia and surrounding areas, meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly are predicting wind gusts that could disrupt Tuesday’s morning commute.

Meteorologist Alex Staarmann said gusts could reach highs of 30 miles per hour and that Monday’s snowfall was “light and fluffy,” which could result in blowing snow covering roadways.

“Once the winds pick up, the winds could start blowing snow back onto the road and potentially cause some icy spots in areas that are more exposed to wind,” Staarmann said. “Whatever residual salt is able to melt in the sun, kind of melt the snow that blows back onto the road, but then it could refreeze again at night.”

As Philadelphia remains under a winter weather advisory with a chance of snow stretching into the evening, crews are continuing to monitor road conditions.

The city’s Streets Department says it began prepping for the storm by pre-treating roads Saturday, then started salting residential streets Monday morning. By 4:30 p.m., the city had 350 pieces of equipment out treating the streets and 500 city workers deployed to respond to the storm.

City officials are asking residents to shovel their sidewalks within six hours of the storm ending and to be careful where they put the snow.

“While many residents in Philadelphia live on narrow streets with little room to move snow, it is important for residents and business owners to know that throwing snow into the street while shoveling and cleaning cars has a negative impact on snow removal operations and we ask them to please find another place for their removed snow,” said Streets Commissioner Kristin Del Rossi.

Shoveling or plowing snow into the street can bring a penalty of up to $300.

Here’s a look at how Monday’s snow day unfolded across the Delaware Valley:

The tri-state area has been hit by its first major snowstorm of 2025, leaving Delaware under a blanket of snow that ranges from light dustings in the north to significant accumulations in the south.

Although the storm has moved on, untreated roads and less-traveled routes remain hazardous.

DelDOT said it is prioritizing major routes like I-95, Route 1, Route 13 and Route 113, while secondary roads and subdivisions may still be slippery. Drivers are urged to use caution.

Philadelphia International Airport has reported numerous delays and cancellations, many of them incoming arrivals, due to the winter weather.

Public Affairs Manager Heather Redfern said PHL experienced at least 64 cancellations and 238 delays as of Monday afternoon.

“Most of those are flights actually [are] coming from or heading to the Midwest or South or other places that were really hit with the brunt of the storm either over the weekend or earlier today,” she said.

Redfern recommended passengers check with their airline directly to see if their flights are on time, and cautions that delays could stretch for a few days.

SEPTA officials said they are coping well with the first winter storm of 2025 but continue to caution that delays are likely.

“The main thing that we would ask is [to] expect that it’s going to take a little longer than normal,” said SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch.

Busch said SEPTA is seeing fewer passengers as city schools and offices have closed because of the weather and it will continue to keep an eye on conditions.

Passengers are encouraged to check SEPTA’s website and social media for information on delays and possible cancellations.

WHYY News recently asked Philadelphians about their favorite sledding spots. Here’s what you said.

The Art Museum

Make sure to wait for some solid accumulation before you try to fly down the Rocky steps, or get ready for a bumpy ride! This popular sledding spot on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art may technically be illegal, but that hasn’t stopped Philadelphians seeking a wintry thrill.

We hear the hill behind the Art Museum is a sweet slope as well.

Fairmount Park

The Belmont Plateau, which recently lost its iconic sugar maple, is known as a great sledding spot with a killer view.

We hear Lemon Hill, in East Fairmount Park on the other side of the river, is worth a trip as well.

Northwest Philly

The northwest part of the city is full of beloved sledding spots.

Be sure to check out the incline known as Tommy’s Hill at the Thomas Mansion on Wissahickon Avenue and Fernhill Park, which has a mix of big and small hills.

In East Germantown, we hear there’s a good sledding spot at Awbury Park.

Find a variety of hills, including a nice long one at the Water Tower Rec Center in Chestnut Hill and a steep slope at Gorgas Park in Roxborough.

A hill known as “the nuts” also holds fond winter memories for longtime East Falls residents.

West Philly

Head to the Clark Park “bowl,” south of Chester Avenue for some gentle glides.

South Philly

FDR Park has more mild slopes for the smaller sledders around the park’s ponds.

Also check out Bridge Hill in Packer Park.

Getting out of town

If your search for the perfect descent takes you to the ‘burbs, there are lots of great options.

Tyler State Park in Bucks County has several slopes below the Upper Plantation Picnic Area parking lot and west of the covered bridge.

Fort Washington State Park in Montgomery County boasts the intimidating “Suicide Hill.”

Valley Forge National Historical Park has a great hill. People have even gone down it in kayaks!

We hear there’s a good sledding hill in front of Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, and another between the Abington Club Golf Course and the Pavilion Shopping Center in Jenkintown.

Brandywine Creek State Park in northern Delaware is full of rolling hills and open fields.

» READ MORE: The best sledding hills in Philly and the suburbs

Parts of the U.S. — including the Delaware Valley — are bracing for snowfall and frigid temps Monday.

Here’s what to know if you live in Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia suburbs, South Jersey or Delaware.

What does the forecast say?

Two to 4 inches of snow are possible for the Philly area as part of a storm system spreading from the Central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic, according to the National Weather Service.

A Winter Storm Advisory will be in effect through 10 p.m. for parts of southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. That includes Berks, Western Chester County, Philadelphia, Eastern and Western Montgomery, and Lower Buck counties, and Northwestern Burlington and Ocean counties.

A Winter Storm Warning will be in effect through 1 a.m. Tuesday for New Castle County, Delaware, and for Atlantic, coastal Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties in New Jersey, with additional snow accumulations between 3 and 5 inches.

“Any time after daybreak on Monday is the heaviest potential for snowfall,” said meteorologist Mike Lee. “Areas to the south across Delaware, they’re going to get the heaviest snowfall … Around Philadelphia, a little bit lighter snowfall.”

Lee expects snow will continue through the evening hours before tapering out overnight.

Parts of the Delmarva Peninsula and South Jersey could get 8 to 12 inches of snow, with as much as an inch of snow every hour Monday morning. The NWS predicts wind gusts between 30 and 45 miles per hour.

State of Emergency in New Jersey

A State of Emergency is in effect for the following New Jersey counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem.

“We are anticipating moderate to heavy snowfall,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a post to X. “Please be cautious of hazardous road conditions.”

All state offices in New Jersey have a delayed opening time of 11 a.m. due to inclement weather.

Philly public schools, city offices closed

All Philadelphia public schools and city offices are closed Monday as the area braces for several inches of snow and gusty winds for most of the day. All after-school activities have been canceled. Operations are expected to resume Tuesday.

“This year, the District allotted one extra day in the school year calendar beyond the 180 required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which we will use as a snow day,” Superintendent Tony Watlington said in a statement. “Going forward, any school closures related to inclement weather will be remote learning days.”

“Snow days offer special moments for our students to experience the joy and wonder of winter. We encourage families to embrace this opportunity to build memories together, while exercising appropriate caution during winter weather conditions,” Watlington said.

Philadelphia’s archdiocesan high schools are shifting to virtual learning Monday, and parochial elementary schools will be closed.

How is travel impacted?

Amtrak announced cancellations Sunday for Acela and Northeast Regional trains operating between Boston and Washington, D.C., due to the severe weather.

The Philadelphia International Airport is also recommending passengers check with their airlines for changes to their flight schedules.

Atlantic City International Airport is operational, but some flights may have delayed departures or arrivals. Passengers are advised to call their carrier for updates. Officials at Trenton Mercer Airport in Central Jersey report arrivals and departures are on time and are not impacted by inclement weather.

NJ Transit is monitoring forecasts and plans to operate on its full, regular weekday schedule for as long as conditions allow.

The Philadelphia Streets Department began treating major roadways with salt to help prevent ice from forming before the brunt of the storm. Two hundred pieces of equipment will be deployed to address road conditions when the winter weather hits, according to a social media statement.

NWS meteorologist Mike Lee said expected wind gusts could create more work for road crews after the storm.

“Even though we’ve potentially cleared the roads … the winds could pick up the snow again and start moving things around and we end up with a little bit of blowing snow,“ he said. “Some locations could see snow cover on the roads again.”

With the brunt of the storm expected during Monday’s morning commute, taking precautions on the road are advised if you have to travel.“

Exercise caution on the roadways, give yourself extra time, drive slowly,” Lee said. “If you don’t have to travel, just don’t.”

Bitter cold to last the week

Temperatures are expected to stay below freezing until Friday, with wind chills dropping into the single digits overnight.

The city of Philadelphia is under a Code Blue advisory to provide additional protections for people experiencing homelessness. Additional shelter beds will be provided at city-funded homeless intake centers, and 24-hour outreach will be available to help transport people to safe indoor spaces.

If you see a person who appears to be homeless outdoors during a Code Blue, call the city’s homeless outreach hotline at 215-232-1984. Last January, Philadelphia broke a 715-day snow drought, the longest stretch without an inch of snow recorded in the city’s recorded history.

Government offices and facilities are closed in Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties due to the snow. Inclement weather has also put a pause on in-person court activities in Philadelphia’s collar counties.

In Montgomery County, all matters — in-person and virtual — will be rescheduled to another day.

The Chester County Salary Board meeting previously scheduled for Monday has been postponed. While offices are shuttered, some government employees in the collar counties continue to work remotely to deliver services.

Officials are urging residents to avoid non-essential travel.

Crews in Burlington County report everything is “going OK so far,” according to county spokesperson David Levinsky.

The county has a fleet of 50 vehicles plowing and salting county roads.

Residents are encouraged to limit travel to allow crews to work.

Levinsky added that county offices are closed, except for essential personnel.

Camden County officials said more than 100 pieces of equipment are at their disposal to keep the county’s 600 miles of road clear. Crews will be dispatched only to areas where they are needed.

“Our crews were prepped and ready to go this morning to ensure all of our roadways were treated and cleared for the incoming storm,” said County Commissioner Al Dyer, a public works liaison.

Residents are encouraged to report problems on county roads to the public work’s 24-hour hotline at 856-566-2980.

Most Philadelphia public library branches are closed Monday because of the severe weather, but nine locations are open as safe places for people to stay warm.

The following locations are open as warming centers from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday:

• Bustleton Library (10199 Bustleton Ave.)
• Haddington Library (446 North 65th St.)
• Logan Library (1333 Wagner Ave.)
• Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library (125 South 52nd St.)
• Nicetown-Tioga Library (3720 North Broad St.)
• Northeast Regional Library (2228 Cottman Ave.)
• South Philadelphia Library (1700 South Broad St.)
• Walnut Street West Library (201 South 40th St.)
• Widener Library (2808 West Lehigh Ave.)

The libraries are open in South, West, North and Northeast Philly. No library branches are open Monday in Center City, Southwest or Northwest Philly or the River Wards. Eleven additional warming centers at places including senior centers, recreation centers and the Hub of Hope are open throughout the city.

PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the Philadelphia region, the agency announced Monday morning.

Due to the severity of the winter storm, PennDot is urging drivers to avoid unnecessary travel.

Those who must use the following highways will see speed reduced to 45 mph:

• Interstates 95, 295, 476
• U.S. Routes 1, 30, 202, 422
• State Route 309

When such speed restrictions are in place, commercial vehicles must stay in the right lane.

Several school districts in New Jersey have opted to extend their holiday break for at least one day due to the snow.

Below is a list of closings and modifications as of 9:10 a.m. per WHYY News partner 6abc:

• Alloway Township School District (Salem): Closed
• Amazing Place Learning Center (Gloucester): Closed
• Atlantic Christian School (Atlantic): Closed
• Bancroft School (Burlington): Closed
• Barrington Borough School District (Camden): Closed
• Beacon Academy (Gloucester): Closing at 1 p.m.
• Bellmawr Borough School District (Camden): Closed
• Benjamin Banneker Prep Charter School (Burlington): Closed
• Black Horse Pike Regional School District (Camden): Closed
• Bridgeton Public School District (Cumberland): Closed
• Buena Regional School District (Atlantic): Closed
• Burlington City Public School District (Burlington): Closed
• Burlington Co. Inst. of Technology BCIT (Burlington): Closed
• Burlington County Special Services (Burlington): Closed
• Burlington Township School District (Burlington) : Closed
• Camden County Technical Schools (Camden): Closed
• Cathedral Of Love School (Burlington): Closed
• Center for Education (Burlington): Closed
• Christian Day Nursery School (Camden): Closed
• Clayton School District (Gloucester): Closed
• Clearview Regional School District (Gloucester): Closed
• Clementon School District (Camden): Closed
• Creative Minds Academy (Camden): Closed
• Deptford Township School District (Gloucester): Closed
• Downe Township School District (Cumberland): Closed
• Durand Academy Inc (Gloucester): Closed
• Eastampton Township School District (Burlington): Closed
• Eastern Camden Co. Regional School Distr (Camden): Closed
• Egg Harbor Township School District (Atlantic): Closed
• Elsinboro Township School District (Salem): Closed
• Estell Manor City School District (Atlantic): Closed
• Fairfield Township School District (Cumberland): Closed
• Future Scholars Early Learning Center (Burlington): Closed
• Garfield Park Academy (Burlington): Closed
• Githens Center (Burlington): Closed
• Gloucester Co Special Services School (Gloucester): Closed
• Gloucester Co. Vocational School Dist. (Gloucester): Closed; no after-school activities
• Gloucester Township School District (Camden): Closed
• Haddon Heights School District (Camden): Closed
• Haddon Learning Center (Camden): Closed
• Hainesport Township School District (Burlington): Closed
• Hamilton Twp School Dist – Atlantic Co. (Atlantic): Closed
• Hampton Academy (Burlington): Closed
• HollyDELL School (Gloucester): Closed
• Kingsway Learning Ctr-Voorhees (Camden): Closed
• Kingsway Regional High School District (Gloucester): Closed
• Lawnside Borough School District (Camden): Closed
• Lenape Regional School District (Burlington): Closed
• Logan Township School District (Gloucester): Closed
• Lower Alloways Creek Twp School Dist (Salem): Closed
• Lumberton Township School District (Burlington): Closed
• Mantua Township School District (Gloucester): Closed
• Medford Township Public Schools (Burlington): Closed
• Merchantville School District (Camden): Closed
• Middle Township School District (Cape May) : Closed
• Millville School District (Cumberland): Closed
• Monroe Township Public Schools (Gloucester): Closed; no afternoon school activities
• Moorestown Friends School (Burlington): Closed
• Mount Holly Township School District (Burlington): Closed
• National Park Borough School District (Gloucester): Closed
• Northfield City School District (Atlantic): Closed
• Our Lady Of Mercy Academy (Gloucester): Closed
• Our Lady Of Mt Carmel – Berlin (Camden): Virtual
• Pemberton Township School District (Burlington): Closed
• Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional (Salem): Closed
• Pineland Learning Center (Cumberland): Closed
• Pitman Public School District (Gloucester): Closed
• Rancocas Valley Regional School District (Burlington): Closed
• Riverside Township School District (Burlington): Closed
• Salem City School District (Salem): Closed
• Salem Co. Special Services School Dist. (Salem): Closed
• Salem County Vocational School District (Salem): Closed
• Shamong Township School District (Burlington): Closed
• St Augustine Prep (Atlantic): Closed
• St John’s Pentecostal Outreach Daycare (Salem): Closed
• St. Cecilia School (Camden): Closed
• Swedesboro-Woolwich School District (Gloucester): Closed
• T. Byrd Training Center (Atlantic): Virtual
• The Arc of Camden County (Camden): Closed
• Tiddlewinks Learning Center (Camden): Closed
• Upper Deerfield Township School District (Cumberland): Closed
• Vineland City School District (Cumberland): Closed
• Voorhees Township School District (Camden): Closed
• Washington Township School District (Gloucester): Closed; no after-school activities
• Waterford Township School District (Camden): Closed
• Westampton Township School District (Burlington): Closed
• Weymouth Township School District (Atlantic): Closed
• Wildwood City School District (Cape May): Closed
• Winslow Township School District (Camden): Closed
• Woodstown Preschool Academy (Salem): Closed
• Y.A.L.E. School – Cherry Hill (Camden): Closed
• Y.A.L.E. School – Ellisburg (Gloucester): Closed
• Y.A.L.E. School – Erlton (Camden): Closed
• Y.A.L.E. School – Northfield (Atlantic): Closed
• Y.A.L.E. School – Southeast (Camden): Closed