{"id":100807,"date":"2026-01-30T16:04:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/100807\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T16:04:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:04:09","slug":"deep-freeze-settles-in-frustrates-philly-weekend-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/100807\/","title":{"rendered":"Deep freeze settles in, frustrates Philly weekend plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Philadelphia heads toward February still stuck in a deep freeze, with streets rutted in ice, the postponed Mummers String Band competition on some thin ice of its own, and forecasters eyeing yet another potential \u2014 but increasingly unlikely \u2014 snowmaker just offshore. Bundle up, plan extra travel time, and don\u2019t count on that curbside snowbank disappearing anytime soon.<\/p>\n

Streets still entombed in ice<\/p>\n

Nearly a week after the biggest storm in a decade, many neighborhood blocks are still lined with snow\u2011walled cars<\/a> and frozen, tire\u2011carved tracks that pass for traffic lanes. City officials say more than 200 plows, dump trucks, and other heavy machines have been\u00a0 out on weekdays trying to widen streets and haul piles away, but they\u2019re warning the full cleanup will take more time.\u200b<\/p>\n

Patience is wearing thin. Residents from South Philly to Port Richmond report digging that after digging out and being re\u2011buried by plows, they now are trapped in a parking spot or unable to access one due to \u201csolid ice walls.\u201d The lack of parking has led to fights, including one caught on camera in Kensington that Philadelphia police say left one of the participants in critical condition<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The city of Philadelphia has received more than 1200 complaints to 311 regarding plowing\u00a0following the biggest snowstorm in a decade. https:\/\/t.co\/CbP3NnArY8<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) January 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Businesses say the slow plowout and biting cold have kept customers home, leaving some shop owners staring at empty aisles and tables.<\/p>\n

Deep freeze digs in<\/p>\n

If you were waiting for a thaw to rescue the city from its snowpack, it\u2019s not this weekend. Local forecasts keep daytime highs in the teens and low 20s, with wind chills stuck in the single digits and dipping below zero at times. Meteorologists say this Arctic blast will carry Philadelphia into the start of February before temperatures \u201cease up\u201d into something closer to freezing.<\/p>\n

\"\"A plow and salt vehicle turns off North 35th Street onto Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia in the days following a substantial winter storm, January 28, 2026. (Kimberly Paynter\/WHYY)<\/p>\n

That means the 9\u2011plus inches of snow and sleet that fell last Sunday will continue to harden in place, turning side streets into long\u2011term obstacle courses instead of slushy puddles. One forecaster compared the snowpack<\/a> to a guest that has decided it likes the region and isn\u2019t leaving quickly. <\/p>\n

And while next week is looking a little warmer, it\u2019s not by much, with temps maybe peaking over freezing on a day or two. <\/p>\n

\"\"The Philadelphia skyline seen from the banks of the Schuylkill River following a substantial winter storm, January 28, 2026 (Kimberly Paynter\/WHYY)<\/p>\n

Mummers competition on thin ice<\/p>\n

The 125th Mummers Parade managed to strut on New Year\u2019s Day, but the high winds that ripped through Center City that day forced an unprecedented postponement of the String Band competition after props were shredded and several people were injured during setup. Organizers moved the judged show to this Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field, turning what\u2019s usually a Broad Street spectacle into a winter\u2011stadium one\u2011off.\u200b<\/p>\n

Now the brutal cold is taking another bite. With the frigid forecast for Saturday, some bands are reassessing whether they can safely put their performers and props on the field. At least one, the Avalon String Band, has decided to sit it out<\/a> rather than risk frostbite and equipment damage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for to get out of the house but not be quite so cold-challenged, the Unrivaled women\u2019s professional basketball league is in town Friday night<\/a> at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, and there are watch parties around town. And on Saturday, the celebration of Philly \u201cfirsts\u201d continues with a celebration of the first Girls Scouts cookie sale<\/a>, at PECO\u2019s headquarters on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Another storm lurking offshore<\/p>\n

As if the existing snowbanks weren\u2019t enough, forecasters are tracking a coastal system that could brush the region late Saturday into Sunday. The setup is classic winter\u2011nerd bait: a coastal \u201cbomb\u201d deepening offshore while the city sits in bitter air, with models wobbling on how close the storm will track.<\/p>\n

The good news is, it seems likely the storm will miss us<\/a>, with the National Weather Service saying<\/a> it\u2019s unlikely to impact Philly while the Shore has a better chance at meaningful accumulation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, the NWS hints in its forecast notes on Friday that there\u2019s a possibility of a mid-week snow event on the horizon.<\/p>\n

How to navigate the weekend<\/p>\n

Expect travel to be challenging to impossible in many city neighborhoods, especially if your destination is on a smaller street. A stubborn number of those remain un- or under-treated.<\/p>\n

SEPTA buses continue to be impacted by the uneven state of roads and the significant ice mountains that line streets. Give yourself extra time getting around., and it won\u2019t hurt to check with SEPTA before venturing out<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re heading to the Linc for the Mummers competition, dress for hours in single\u2011digit wind chills, and keep an eye on any last\u2011minute announcements from parade organizers or the String Band Association.\u200b<\/p>\n

For city services, trash pickup is still running one day behind schedule.\u200b<\/p>\n

Stay plugged into local forecasts through Sunday in case the offshore system noses closer and flips the city from deep freeze to plow\u2011worthy snow all over again.<\/p>\n

In other words: it\u2019s a good weekend for a good book or a visit with nearby friends.<\/p>\n

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