What to Know
- More than a foot more of snow fell in some northern neighborhoods Monday afternoon and evening as a second round of snow struck the Philadelphia region. A First Alert is in effect through Tuesday afternoon.
- A woman with Alzheimer's disease died Monday morning after reportedly wandering away from her home in Allentown. The Lehigh Valley saw more than 2 feet of snow in some areas.
- The storm caused icy conditions on roads throughout the region. Coastal flooding also occurred along the Jersey Shore as high tides rolled in.
EDITOR'S NOTE (Feb. 2, 2021 at 7 a.m.): This story is no longer being updated. Click here for the latest.
A winter storm pummeled parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware with snow and claimed at least one life as it continued to move through the region into Tuesday morning.
Round 1 of the winter storm dropped several inches of snow across much of the Philadelphia region Sunday into Monday, but the heaviest snow slammed our region Monday afternoon and evening during Round 2, with more than 2 feet were reported in parts of the Lehigh Valley (30.1 inches in Ancient Oaks and 31 inches in Nazareth) so far.
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NBC10 issued a First Alert through Tuesday afternoon.
A 67-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease was found dead Monday morning in Allentown after reportedly wandering away from her home. The Lehigh County coroner’s office determined the cause of death to be hypothermia and the death was ruled accidental.
How Much More Snow Will Fall as It Intensifies?
The second round of heavy snow started in the Lehigh Valley during Monday morning. The snow began to pick up in Philadelphia and the surrounding communities midday, with sleet turning to heavier snow in those areas in the afternoon.
The bands of snow pivoted into the region from North Jersey where a foot of snow had already fallen. By mid afternoon Monday, 11.7 inches of snow had fallen at Lehigh Valley International Airport.
You can track the heavier snow with our interactive radar.
Snowfall totals could vary drastically even within counties. For example: South Philadelphia is expected to get less snow than Chestnut Hill, where up to a foot of snow could fall.
Here are the additional snow accumulations that are expected Monday into Tuesday on top of the 2 to 6 inches the area received Sunday:
Less than 1 inch: Jersey Shore and Delaware Beaches
1 to 4 inches: Interior South Jersey and Delaware
4 to 8 inches: Most of Philadelphia, Delaware County and northern Delaware and some South Jersey communities
8 to 12 inches: Most of Berks, lower Bucks, lower Montgomery, northern Philadelphia and northern Chester counties
12 to 16 inches: Upper Bucks, northern Montgomery and eastern Berks counties, and norther Mercer County
16 to 20 inches: Lehigh Valley, Allentown east to Easton along I-78
The storm is expected to wind down Tuesday afternoon. Lingering scattered snow showers can be expected into the evening.
Monday's Snow Came After Hours of Winter Weather
Snow totals from the first round of the storm ranged widely in Pennsylvania, from about 2 inches in Chadds Ford Township in southern Delaware County to more than a foot up in Carbon County. In New Jersey, Camden County reported about 3.5 inches, and in Delaware, 3.2 inches was reported in Hockessin.
Officials in Philadelphia and New Jersey warned drivers not to be fooled lulls in the snow and to stay off the roads for their safety -- as well as to allow plow trucks to do their work. Visibility is expected to quickly worsen as the snow intensifies through the afternoon.
"It's going to get worse before it gets better," said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy at a midday news conference.
The second round of the storm Monday afternoon brought a similar wide variation in snow totals with southern neighborhoods getting less.
Northern and western neighborhoods have gotten much more, including northern Philadelphia, the northern and western suburbs, Berks County, the Lehigh Valley and central New Jersey. More than a foot was expected in the Lehigh Valley, Berks County, the suburbs and even into parts of Philadelphia.
“We encourage all residents to stay home if they can,” said Philadelphia Managing Director Tumar Alexander.
Coastal Flooding at the Jersey Shore
Some back bay flooding occurred during high tide in Sea Isle City, New Jersey, late Monday morning. The water quickly flowed onto streets.
Flooding also blocked roads in Absecon, Atlantic City and other shore towns.
There was more moderate flooding during the next high tide Monday between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Minor coastal flooding could also occur Tuesday morning. In addition, wind gusts of over 55 mph is possible at the beaches.
Snow Emergencies and School Closings
See the full list of school closings
Governor Tom Wolf issued a Disaster Emergency for Pennsylvania on Monday.
"We are in the middle of one of the most impactful statewide storms we've had in a long time," PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration Melissa Batula said. "This is truly an all-hands-on-deck situation, and our crews are working hard to keep roads safe and passable."
PennDOT implemented restrictions on trucks and other vehicles on roadways throughout the state.
Philadelphia School District buildings will remain closed on Tuesday due to the snow. However, Philadelphia schools will still conduct virtual learning for students.
Philadelphia's Catholic parish and regional elementary schools will conduct virtual learning on Tuesday as well.
The City of Philadelphia declared a snow emergency which began at 6 p.m. Sunday, meaning all parked vehicles must be moved off snow emergency routes for plowing. There will be no trash pickup in Philly Monday or Tuesday.
Gov. Phil Murphy also declared a State of Emergency for New Jersey that began at 7 p.m. Sunday.
SEPTA riders are urged to check schedules before heading out to catch a train or bus as the agency will be making changes to service.
AMTRAK's Keystone Service from Harrisburg to Philadelphia to New York will also operate on a limited schedule.
If you have a flight, check with Philadelphia International Airport before you head out.
How This Impacts Coronavirus Vaccinations?
Gov. Murphy announced all state offices and coronavirus vaccine mega-sites will remain closed on Tuesday due to the winter storm. The sites and offices had already been closed on Monday.
Philadelphia canceled all city-run coronavirus testing and vaccination locations and "is working" to reschedule appointments, according to a city press release.
In Montgomery County, Monday's expected snow caused the cancellation of the county's COVID-19 vaccination clinic scheduled at the Montgomery County Community College. People who had appointments will be automatically rescheduled for Norristown High School on Friday, Feb. 5.
The Allentown Health Bureau canceled vaccinations Monday and Tuesday at the Agri-Plex at the Allentown Fairgrounds. Those who had appointments Monday will now be seen Wednesday at the same time as their original appointment. Those who had Tuesday appointments will be shifted to Thursday.
The Camden County COVID-19 Vaccination Center will be closed Monday. All appointments were rescheduled for Wednesday, a county spokesperson said.
Keeping Up With the Storm
It is important to stick with the NBC10 Weather Team's latest forecast as the track could continue to shift and could change how much snow you get.
Download the NBC10 app right now and continue to tune into NBC10 News on air, on Roku and on Apple TV as the First Alert Weather Team continues to update the storm forecast.
