PHILADELPHIA – With another significant winter storm forecast to impact the region, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker declared a Snow Emergency for the City of Philadelphia beginning at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, February 22, 2026.
Forecasts from the National Weather Service anticipate heavy, wet snow, high winds, and snowfall rates intensifying to as much as two inches an hour.
“Mother Nature has made it clear winter is not over yet,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “As always, our city agencies and partners have planned, prepared and are ready to fight this storm. We will do whatever it takes to clear our streets and keep Philadelphia safe. We will use every tactic and every strategy necessary to clear our streets as swiftly and efficiently as possible.”
A formal Snow Emergency declaration in Philadelphia is issued when severe winter weather is expected to impact travel and public safety. Once a Snow Emergency is in effect, special parking and traffic regulations are activated to allow crews to plow and treat major roadways and emergency routes efficiently:
- Residents must remove vehicles from designated Snow Emergency Routes
- Parking restrictions and towing enforcement are implemented to keep streets clear for snow removal and emergency access.
The declaration includes heightened coordination across City departments, utilities, and transit agencies, ensuring resources are fully mobilized to protect residents, maintain essential services, and restore normal operations as quickly and safely as possible. At the height of the storm, the Streets Department will have a full deployment of over 800 pieces of equipment and over 1,000 employees, including crews from multiple city departments and contractors. There is 25,000 tons of salt on reserve.
“As part of Mayor’s Parker’s vision for safe, clean, and green streets her directive is that we use every tool in the toolbox in our snow-fighting efforts,” said Carlton Williams, Director, Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. “We will use every option possible including two snow melters with an additional melter possibly on the way, and we are also introducing snow blowers to tackle tight areas like ADA ramps and bike lanes.”
The ‘One Philly, A United City’ initiative, driven by the Parker Administration, is the new standard for operating in the City of Philadelphia. It embodies an intergovernmental, collaborative approach designed to tackle critical city challenges through coordinated action between city departments, quasi-governmental agencies, and partners. It has never been more important to join forces to help mitigate a threat to public safety and return the city to normal operations as soon as possible.
City preparations and response
We’re focused on ensuring public safety and maintaining critical services:
- After the snowfall ends, City crews will continue with lifting operations to pick up snow and move it to storage sites not at capacity. In addition to those sites, the upgraded melting machines, capable of melting 180 tons of snow per hour, will support snow removal.
- Residents can sign up for free emergency alerts and weather updates from ReadyPhiladelphia by texting READYPHILA to 888-777 for free phone alerts or customize free text and email alerts by visiting the Office of Emergency Management’s website at www.phila.gov/ready.
City service impacts
The following service adjustments and operational changes are being implemented across City departments to ensure public safety and maintain critical services during the storm:
Sanitation and Recycling Collections
Due to the expected amount of snow accumulation, Sanitation crews and equipment will be diverted to snow operations. Residents can find updates on sanitation services at www.phila.gov/sanitation and follow the Sanitation Department on social media.
- Trash and recycling collections are suspended for Monday, February 23 and Tuesday, February 24. There will be a two-day delay in collections for the week of February 23 as Monday collections will be picked up on Wednesday and Tuesday collections on Thursday. Collections will continue the rest of the week in the same sequence with materials picked up two days behind regular schedule.
- There will be no collections in rear driveways. Residents are instructed to set their materials out in front of their homes for pickup during the week of February 23. With the expectation of significant snow accumulation, there is an increased risk of Sanitation trucks becoming stuck in the snow in rear driveways.
- The collection schedule may change. Continuation of trash and recycling collections will be contingent on how the storm and plowing operations have progressed.
- Second trash collection is suspended in areas of the city that typically receive it during the week of January 26. There will be one collection only throughout the week.
- Delays: Residents should expect collection delays as crews navigate through the snow and ice. Inaccessible streets may experience additional delays.
- Sanitation Convenience Centers: Residents who can’t hold their materials can drop them off at one of the City’s six locations, open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. A list of sites is available at phila.gov/sanitation.
PlowPHL
You can track the City’s snow efforts through the interactive mapping tool, PlowPHL. The online platform tracks vehicles assigned to a route for plowing and salting for the specific day of a snow event. Color-coded information displays the status of the treated roadway in near real-time, and refreshes every 15 minutes. PlowPHL demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in City services.
City buildings
All City of Philadelphia administrative office buildings and Courts are closed to the public on Monday, February 23, 2026. This includes nonessential City residential services for L&I, Revenue and Water Revenue in the Municipal Services Building, Neighborhood Community Action Centers, among other city agencies.
Code Blue
The Office of Homeless Services will activate a Code Blue alert on Sunday, February 22 at 3pm. If you are experiencing homelessness, you can go to a City-funded homeless intake center and get help. 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.
311 Call Center
The Philly 311 Call Center opens Sunday, February 22 at 4: 00 pm. Residents should be aware that requests will be processed when the snow operation is completed. Servicing complaints while crew members are continuously working will cause disruptions and delays in the operation. Philly 311 will contact the appropriate service department, and after a reasonable amount of time, residents will receive confirmation that their issue has been addressed.
Residents can make requests or report a problem via the portal, the app, an email [email protected], and phone (311), however, we recommend using the app since you can share pictures.
School District of Philadelphia
Dr. Tony Watlington, Superintendent announced that all school buildings are closed on Monday, February 23, 2026. All School District of Philadelphia schools and Early Childhood Centers, as well as the Constance E. Clayton Education Center (Central Office) will operate virtually. All after-school activities, including all athletic programs and professional development sessions scheduled for Monday, are also canceled.
First Judicial District
All Courts and Offices of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (FJD) are closed on Monday, February 23, 2026. All trials and hearings, in person or virtual, are cancelled. If you have been summoned to report for Jury Duty on Monday, February 23, 2026, you are excused and do not need to report.
All critical services are expected to remain operational. That includes: Preliminary Arraignment Court, OJR Bail Acceptance, and filings of Emergency Protection from Abuse Petitions at the Stout Center for Criminal Justice (1301 Filbert Street).
Philadelphia Fire Department
The Philadelphia Fire Department reminds everyone to clear snow from around the fire hydrants near you. Mere seconds can be a matter of life and death, and firefighters need access to the hydrants as soon as they arrive at a fire scene.
Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW)
PGW’s 24-hour Emergency Hotline will remain open for emergency calls. At any time, all gas leaks or gas-related emergencies should be immediately reported by calling (215) 235-1212.
Power outages
Snow, ice, and high wind gusts can contribute to power outages. Philadelphia’s power utility company, PECO, offers ways to help before, during, and after a storm. That includes preventing outages, preparing for storms, storm restoration, reporting outages online, and tracking current outages. Customers can report power outages to peco.com/outages. PECO’s free mobile app also lets you easily report outages and stay up to date on restoration status.
If a tree falls during a storm and poses an immediate safety threat, call 911. Otherwise, call the city’s non-emergency number, 311. A crew of arborists from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is on-call to respond to tree emergencies. If a tree has fallen on electrical wires, please call PECO’s emergency line at (800) 841-4141. Learn more about how to report downed trees.
SEPTA
Riders are advised to allow extra time for safe travel and check septa.org/alerts for the latest information. SEPTA will notify riders of any service delays, detours or suspended routes via our website, alerts and the app when information becomes available. See more information on how to prepare for schedule changes, detours, and suspensions.
Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA)
In response to the City’s Snow Emergency, the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) will offer a flat 24-hour $5 discounted parking rate at the following Center City garages, beginning at 9 AM on Sunday, February 22, 2026, and continuing until the Snow Emergency is lifted. To receive the discounted $5 rate, customers must bring their parking ticket and pay at the PPA Management Office in each garage.
During the Snow Emergency, the PPA will enforce all snow emergency routes and safety violations:
- Vehicles illegally parked on snow emergency routes will be subject to ticketing and towing. If your vehicle is towed, call the City’s Snow Emergency line at (215) 686-SNOW or visit philapark.org/tow to find its location.
- Beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, meter/kiosk and time limit violations on residential blocks will not be enforced until the Snow Emergency is lifted.
PHL International Airport
Travelers and those picking up travelers are encouraged to check their flight status and road conditions before leaving for the airport on Sunday and Monday. Call your airline, get updates at 1-800-PHL-GATE (745-4283), or check the PHL International Airport website. The airport has snow removal planned for the duration of the event.
Safety guidance for residents
Residents are advised to:
- Avoid unnecessary travel and allow extra time if driving is required.
- Move vehicles off Snow Emergency Routes when a Snow Emergency is declared to enable efficient plowing.
- Motorists are asked to allow extra time for travel and maintain safe driving distances to allow for sudden stopping. The frigid temperatures and cold ground will make it easy for snow to accumulate and cause slippery travel on untreated roadways.
- Do not shovel or plow snow into the street. This practice is illegal, unsafe and is counterproductive to snow plowing efforts.
- Watch for slippery sidewalks and clear a path at least 36 inches wide within six hours of the storm ending. Corner property owners are responsible for clearing ramps as an extension of their sidewalk.
- Keep fire hydrants clear.
- Clear snow from neighborhood sewer drains to allow melting snow to drain.
- Assist vulnerable neighbors where possible.
“Philadelphia is a resilient city,” Mayor Parker concluded at today’s press conference. “We have weathered storms before, and we will weather this one – working together. Let’s get through the next few days together as One Philly.”
Sidewalk clearing
All property owners and/or tenants are responsible for clearing a 36- inch path on all sidewalks, including curb cuts, abutting the building or premises within six hours after the snow has ceased to fall—even if the establishment is temporarily closed due to snow. A fine of $1,000 or more may be imposed for a violation of this code.
Businesses with outdoor dining need to take additional precautions. All outdoor dining setups should be secured, removing as many of the setups as possible—including tables, chairs, and heating equipment. As noted in the City’s winter guidelines for outdoor dining, the City is not liable for any damage from plowing or snow removal. Materials should be cleared from the right of way as much as possible to avoid possible damage.
Stay informed
- Tune to local news for weather updates.
- Sign up for free emergency alerts and weather updates from ReadyPhiladelphia by texting READYPHILA to 888-777 for free phone alerts or customize free text and email alerts by signing up online.
- For more winter weather tips, visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management online at phila.gov/ready.
- For official updates from the City, follow @PhilaOEM on X (Twitter) or Facebook.
- Other City Twitter accounts to follow for information: @PhiladelphiaGov, @StreetsPhila and @PhilaSanitation.
- Stay updated on City’s plow operation log onto streetsmartphl.phila.gov.
Sign up for free emergency alerts and weather updates from ReadyPhiladelphia online, or by texting READYPHILA to 888-777.
