The big snowstorm of 2026 is history and now comes the cleanup ahead of the deep freeze.
And get ready, another storm could be on the horizon for Saturday-Sunday.
Main roads were being cleared Monday morning, though no doubt thousands and thousands of residents are waiting for the plow in their neighborhoods.
The National Weather Service lifted the winter storm warning well before the original expiration time of 1 p.m. on Monday.
It was replaced by a cold weather advisory to run from Monday at 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday.
COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
“The cold wind chills as low as 10 below zero could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken,” the Mount Holly, N.J., office says. “Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, ahat, and gloves. If you do not have heat in your home or lack shelter, you can call 211 for assistance locating appropriate shelter from the cold.”
The weather service says it won’t be the last cold weather advisory this week: “Extensions to the Cold Weather Advisory are expected and could be upgraded to an Extreme Cold Warning for Wednesday night and/or Thursday Night. Wind chills below zero at night are likely to continue into the weekend.”
The final accumulation total of snow, sleet and freezing rain at Philadelphia International Airport was 9.3 inches on Sunday. It was a record, topping 8.5 inches in 2000, which was another snowy and cold season.
Other reports published by the Mount Holly office include: Chadds Ford, 10.1 inches; Boothwyn, 9.0; Aston, 8.0; Morton, 8.0 South Nether Providence, 8.0; Swarthmore, 7.3; and Media, 7.0.
69th Street in Upper Darby on Monday morning. (PETE BANNAN – DAILY TIMES.)
Computer models are showing that after a cold week “the potential of some sort of system developing off the Mid-Atlantic coast next weekend.”
The Mount Holly office continues: “Guidance still is all over the place but there is fair agreement in some sort of storm developing. GEFS Ensemble Probability of 24 hour snowfall > 4 inches is around 15-20% for the entire area. The NBM probability is similar.
“Overall, it bears watching to see how things shake out over the next few days and how guidance handles the features in the wake of yesterday`s storm.
“What there is high confidence in is that there will be a cold airmass in place, sufficient for snow. Belownormal temperatures will be in place for next weekend, so it will be a matter of IF a storm develops and what the track will be. That will be ironed out over the coming days.”
69th Street in Upper Darby on Monday morning. (PETE BANNAN – DAILY TIMES.)
At the airport, the last departure Sunday was at 10:25 a.m., the airport reported late Sunday.
At that point, there were 125 cancellations for Monday. There were about 650 cancellations on Sunday, the bulk of the scheduled flights.
“Crews have been treating, plowing and clearing the runways, taxiways, roadways and sidewalks from the beginning of the storm and will continue to do so to be ready for tomorrow’s (Monday’s) operations,” said spokesperson Heather Redfern.
Anyone with plans to fly should check with their airlines for flight updates, she said, and added that all TSA checkpoints will be open Monday for regular hours.
Airport crews working into the night to prepare for flights on Monday. (COURTESY OF PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT)
Shortly after 10 a.m. on Monday, vehicle restrictions were lifted in southeastern Pennsylvania by PennDOT, though speed a reduced speed limit was still in place on interstates 76, 95, 295, 476, 676 and U.S. routes 1, 30, 202, 422.
With temperatures continuing to drop Monday, PennDOT urged drivers to:
• Have an emergency kit in your vehicle stocked with a windshield brush/scraper, food, water, warm clothes, blankets, cell phone charger, a small snow shovel, and any specific needs such as baby supplies, medication, and pet supplies.
• Always wear your seatbelt.
• Be patient on the roadways and allow extra space between other vehicles and snowplows. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a snowplow while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full.
• Avoid sudden stops and starts.
• Beware of roads that may look wet, but are frozen, often referred to as “black ice.”
• Use extra caution on bridges and ramps where ice can form without warning.
• Clear your vehicle of snow and ice before starting to drive including the windows, hood, trunk, roof, headlights, taillights, and signals.
• “Know Before You Go” by checking major roadway conditions at www.511PA.com.
The first big storm in years dropped more than 5 inches of snow and ice in Delaware County on Sunday. On Monday, Bob Smalley of Folsom clears his walkway before heading to work. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
A canvas of local police departments found only minor issues.
Edward Beebe, acting director of Delaware County Emergency Services said there were no serious events to report.
“Strangely enough, and history has shown, our call volume decreases on these weekend events,” Beebe said. “I think people tend to heed the ‘stay in’ advice and hunker down.”
Beebe said there are still calls for accidents and disabled vehicles, but overall, call volume drops.
“Had this been a weekday rush hour event, much different story,” he said.
The Emergency Services is fully operational and ready to support the municipal partners should the need arise, Beebe added.
Beebee reminds residents that shoveling snow is considered a high intensity, “perfect storm” of cardiac risks for older adults and those with a cardiac history.
“We got a significant amount of snow out there. Be aware of signs of medical events and call 911 immediately if experiencing such an event,” he said.
In Haverford, Chief Paramedic James McCans said their had been no cardiac calls, but that could change on Monday as people get out to clear the snow.
State Trooper Paul Holdfelder said for the three-county Troop K area — Delaware, Philadelphia and Montgomery — units responded during the storm to six motor vehicle crashes and assisted drivers in 98 disabled vehicles.
In Prospect Park, Chief Dave Madonna said the department had a number of vehicles hung up in snowbanks or in icy conditions, and some of those required a tow truck to be freed.
“Overall, we were pleased that most people chose to stay indoors while borough employees and emergency crews started the process of clearing roads,” he said.
Plow crews helped EMS on Sunday afternoon when a 75 year-old fell inside her home.
The Prospect Park plow drivers escorted the ambulance to Fitzgerald Hospital “as it would have had a difficult time getting there on its own,” Madonna said. “The borough employee successfully cleared the way for the medics so that the senior patient could receive proper care in a timely manner.”
In Ridley Park, officials reported one of their trucks broke down and crews from Tinicum Township jumped in to help.
East Lansdowne Police Chief James Cadden said there were a few vehicle accidents in that community but no injuries.
“Several complaints about parking spaces, etc,” he said. “Overall fairly well. We had extra officers on to help residents and the highway crew was on nonstop. Our streets looks great, considering.”
For residents, clearing the snow was a major chore. Social media was full of residents looking for help getting their walks and driveways cleared.
In Springfield, the Sparacino family was busy digging out on Rolling Road.
Katie and Matthew Sparacino were being helped by son Tristan with a hoe to break the ice as 8-month-old Mae hung out in a carrier on mom’s front.
“The ice is making it hard,” said Matthew Sparacino. “We’ve had this much snow before but had a half inch of ice over top of it.”
“We had some really nice neighbors who did the walkway but the plow came back at night and pushed it back.” she said.
In Folsom, Bob Smalley was out shoveling since 6:30 a.m. to get his two cars and walkways cleared in time to get to work at 10 a.m. He said during the storm he saw some flashes in the sky but didn’t lose power.
“I don’t know if someone was out taking pictures or what,” he said.
In Ridley Park, Tori McClay also had to get to work but luckily not until the afternoon.
“We’ll see,” she said as she began the task of breaking the Hyundai from the icy grip of snow along East Hinckley Avenue.
The snow that fell isn’t going anywhere soon. Forecasts call for a frigid week with lows in the single digits.
On top of that forecasts are calling for the possibility of more snow fall Saturday.
Many might be hoping the ground hog doesn’t seek his shadow. It seems most Delaware County residents have had enough of winter.
The Sparacino family was busy digging out in Springfield. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
Tori McClay faces the daunting task of shoveling out her car in Ridley Park Monday. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
A Ridley Township man with a snow blower clearing his driveway. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
On Monday folks along Woodland Avenue in Springfield were clearing a driveway. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
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The Sparacino family was busy digging out in Springfield. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)