A major winter storm affected the Philadelphia region and a significant portion of the Eastern United States on Sunday, January 25, bringing widespread snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The storm resulted in travel disruptions, power outages, and at least 25 weather-related fatalities nationwide, including three in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, attributed to snow shoveling activities.
Approximately 180 million people, over half of the country's population, were impacted by the weather event.
Storm Conditions and Immediate Impact
The National Weather Service reported major disruptions across the affected areas due to the precipitation. Heavy snow and sleet were followed by freezing rain and wind gusts of 20-30 mph, which posed a risk of downed trees and power outages. Travel was considered dangerous or impossible in many areas.
Snowfall concluded for most of the Philadelphia region, with snow transitioning to sleet across Delmarva, South Jersey, and the I-95 corridor on Sunday afternoon. Ice accumulations between 0.1 to 0.25 inches were possible across the I-95 corridor, South Jersey, and central and northern Delaware, with warnings of ice accumulations potentially reaching approximately three-tenths of an inch. Isolated power outages were expected due to ice. Nationwide, approximately 830,000 customers experienced power outages, with about 150 outages reported in Philadelphia by Monday afternoon.
Post-Storm Weather and Advisories
Following the storm, a prolonged period of below-normal temperatures is anticipated. Forecasters predict wind chills will drop to single digits or below zero each night through the coming weekend. Temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing until at least the weekend.
Dangerously cold wind chills, potentially between -15° and 0°, are anticipated, increasing the risk of hypothermia and frostbite. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain in the 10s and 20s. A Cold Weather Advisory was in effect for several counties from Monday 7 p.m. to Wednesday 10 a.m., warning of wind chills between 0 and 10 degrees below zero.
Snowfall Totals
This winter storm delivered significant snowfall to the Philadelphia region, with the National Weather Service identifying it as the largest single snowfall event in Philadelphia since the January 2016 blizzard. Official and reported snowfall totals include:
Philadelphia Metropolitan Area
- Philadelphia International Airport: 9.3 inches
- Center City, Philadelphia: 9 inches
- Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia: 5.7 inches
- Ben Franklin Bridge: 6.6 inches
- Northeast Philadelphia: 4 inches
Pennsylvania
- Berks County:
- Mertztown: 14.1 inches
- Huffs Church: 11.5 inches
- Reading: 9.4 inches
- Reading Regional Airport: 8.4 inches
- Boyertown: 7 inches
- Bucks County:
- Gardenville: 12 inches
- Levittown: 9.5 inches
- Chalfont: 8.8 inches
- Furlong: 7.3 inches
- Northampton Twp: 6.8 inches
- Hilltown Twp: 6.5 inches
- Chester County:
- East Coventry Twp: 10.5 inches
- South Pottstown: 7 inches
- East Whiteland Twp: 6 inches
- Upper Providence Twp: 6.5 inches
- Berwyn: 6.5 inches
- Delaware County:
- Garnet Valley: 7 inches
- Morton: 5.9 inches
- Lancaster County:
- 2 W Lancaster: 7.8 inches
- 4 NE Terre Hill: 6.5 inches
- Millersville: 6.5 inches
- Lehigh County:
- New Tripoli: 12.5 inches
- Emmaus: 13.3 inches
- Allentown: 11.5 inches
- Salisbury Twp: 10.1 inches
- Center Valley: 9.5 inches
- Coopersburg: 9 inches
- Montgomery County:
- Skippack Twp: 12.2 inches
- Pottstown: 11 inches
- Norristown: 10.1 inches
- New Hanover Twp: 9.9 inches
- Trappe: 9.4 inches
- Lower Pottsgrove Twp: 8.5 inches
- Glenside: 7 inches
- Ambler: 7 inches
- King of Prussia: 6.9 inches
- Eagleville: 6.7 inches
- Salford Twp: 9 inches
- Northampton County:
- Nazareth: 13.2 inches
- SSE Northampton Twp: 6.6 inches
New Jersey
- Atlantic County:
- Malaga: 8.7 inches
- Hammonton: 6.3 inches
- Atlantic City International Airport: 6.2 inches
- Burlington County:
- Mount Holly WFO: 9.4 inches
- Rancocas: 6.3 inches
- Leisuretowne: 6.2 inches
- South Jersey Regional: 6.6 inches
- Tabernacle: 6.5 inches
- Medford Twp: 5.6 inches
- Cinnaminson: 5.6 inches
- Mount Holly: 6.6 inches
- Fort Dix: 4.5 inches
- Camden County:
- Bellmawr: 10.2 inches
- Lindenwold: 7.2 inches
- Mt. Ephraim: 7 inches
- Cape May County:
- Ocean City: 6 inches
- Gloucester County:
- Mantua: 10.5 inches
- Pitman: 7 inches
- Mercer County:
- Trenton Mercer Airport: 8.6 inches
- Hamilton Twp: 7.5 inches
- Middlesex County:
- East Brunswick: 6 inches
- South River: 5.3 inches
- Monmouth County:
- Tinton Falls: 6 inches
- Ocean County:
- Toms River: 9 inches
- Forked River: 9 inches
- Bayville: 8 inches
- Buena Vista Twp: 6.3 inches
Delaware
- Kent County:
- Dover Air Force Base: 6.5 inches
- New Castle County:
- Bear: 10 inches
- Hockessin: 6.8 inches
- Odessa: 6.5 inches
- Wilmington: 6.5 inches
- New Castle County Airport: 5.5 inches
- Newark: 4.9 inches