Philly Schools and Offices Open on a 2-Hour Delay - Wednesday, January 17, 2024

All late arrivals will be excused - be careful below-freezing temperatures increase frostbite and hypothermia risk

Winter stormPhoto byMarc KleenonUnsplash

January 17, 2024 - On Tuesday evening The School District of Philadelphia posted another Inclement Weather Update. The District used the National Weather Service's forecast to announce the 2-hour delay due to icy conditions caused by frozen snow, slush, and any precipitation from the below-freezing temperatures.

The Update added:

We understand the safety concerns of our District community. Due to the inclement weather, all school programs and activities, as well as the District Administrative Office, will operate on a two-hour delay. All late arrivals due to weather-related issues recorded tomorrow, January 17, 2024 will be excused. We are encouraging students, families, and staff to travel safely tomorrow morning.

Parents and guardians should plan for possible delays with the District’s yellow bus services and on SEPTA’s subway, trolley and bus routes. If you anticipate delays or have questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s principal or school.

Please be careful especially if you're taking public transportation or you're a fall risk. Some streets and steps may be extremely slippery today and tomorrow.

It's currently 14 degrees with wind chills in the single digits. There is an extremely high risk of hypothermia and frostbite. The CDC says:

Adults and children should wear a hat, a scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth, with sleeves that are snug at the wrist, mittens (they are warmer than gloves), water-resistant coat and boots, several layers of loose-fitting clothing (cdc.gov)

If you're not sure how to dress the kiddies in the snow - here is a free infographic from the CDC how-to guide from yesterday's post.

CDC Frostbite InfographicPhoto byCDC

Here is a full tip sheet on how to stay safe during a winter storm and some other tips from yesterday's post:

For an up-to-date list of school closings in the tri-state area check out KYW's page. If you decide to stay home, check out our January Community Job and Resource Board and the IRS VITA program a free tax resource.

Be safe and thank you for reading!