Winter storm: look out for wind chills, slick roads, outages

Power outage trackers are ticking up as this winter weather and high winds impact customers.

As of 2:20 p.m. Friday, more than 31,000 PPL customers were without power, the company's website shows.

PECO's website showed more than 20,000 customers were without power just before 3 p.m. Friday.

FirstEnergy reported nearly 6,000 outages in Berks County, or 4% of customers. There were a few scattered hundreds of outages across Bucks, Montgomery and Lehigh counties as well.

Low-lying areas will see 1 to 2 feet of inundation along the Delaware River between now and 3 p.m. 

Also, 50 to 60 mph wind gusts have been recorded in Gloucester County. 

Areas are seeing debris, overturned trash cans and branches down.

The Pennsylvania SPCA offered these tips to keep your pet safe during this cold snap, with a serious drop in temperatures and potential subzero wind chills:

• During walks outside, coats and booties can help your dog stay warm. In particular, short-haired or elderly dogs benefit from wearing a coat or sweater.
• Take extra caution with sick or older dogs, since they are more sensitive to cold weather. For any dog sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
• Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If necessary, paper train your puppy inside if he appears to be sensitive to the weather.
• During deep snows, shovel out a "potty" spot for your dog.
• After walks, wipe snow and ice off your dog's feet, legs and belly. Little ice cubes can form in the sensitive spaces between the toes and toe-pads. Remove the ice carefully with your fingers since it may cling to the hairs between the paws. Wiping off your dog will remove any salt, antifreeze or other harmful chemicals that she could ingest them when licking her paws. Rock salt and other types of snow-melt can irritate the foot pads and cause vomiting and diarrhea when licked.
• Many de-icing and ice-melting products are toxic. Read the labels of any projects you use, and store these products in tight containers so pets can't get into them.
• Even brief exposure to sub-zero temperatures can lead to frostbite of the feet, nose or ears. Frost-bitten skin appears red, gray or whitish and may peel off. If you suspect frostbite, move your pet to a warm place and thaw out frostbitten areas slowly by applying warm, moist towels.  Do not use hot water. Contact a veterinarian for further care.
• Do not be tempted to let dogs off leash in snow or ice. Canines often lose their scent in cold weather and can become lost. Dogs also can panic in snow storms and run away. More dogs are reported lost during the winter than any other season, so always keep dogs on leash or in a fully fenced yard. Make sure your pet is microchipped and always wears proper identification.

The winter storm has led to tidal flooding in coastal communities, with impacts expected to continue through Friday afternoon.

Roads were closed in Atlantic City and some streets were flooded Friday morning. Officials warned residents not to drive through flooded streets.

About 1-2 feet of inundation could occur during high tide through the afternoon, meteorologist Llarisa Abreu reports. 

Flooding in low-lying areas along the Delaware River could occur Friday at high tide.

The flood threat will subside by Friday night.

Strong winds, plummeting temperatures, and coastal flooding are all anticipated with the dynamic winter storm moving through the region Friday.  

Strong winds will continue to bring impacts to the area through the holiday weekend. Gusts as high as 55mph can impact the shore with the passage of the arctic cold front. Neighborhoods inland could experience gusts topping 45mph. It is important to secure holiday decorations and outdoor furniture, at least through the weekend.

Unfortunately, the dangerous cold will not subside until Monday of next week.  The arctic cold front has led to record breaking cold across a large portion of the United States.  At home, we are also slated to experience extreme cold and dangerous wind chills through the holiday weekend.  Feels-like wind chills will drop between -10 near Philadelphia and -25 in the Poconos. 

It's important to protect your pets and yourselves during the harsh temperatures. Remember, frostbite can occur on bare skin in as little as 30 minutes. Protect your neck, ears and face if and when you head outdoors. 

The Christmas holiday will still be one for the record books. It has been over 20 years since Philadelphia experienced such a cold Christmas. Day time highs will climb into the mid-20s Christmas day. However, wind chills will remain in the teens and single digits. The silver lining is Santa will not need an umbrella or a shovel to deliver gifts on Christmas Day.

Temperatures are rapidly falling across the Philadelphia region Friday and another advisory has just been issued for the region. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory until 6 p.m. across the Philadelphia region. 

As arctic air will take over the Philadelphia region, bringing dangerously cold temperatures and high winds. A wind advisory is in effect from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday as gusts could reach up to 50 mph in some areas. 

A wind chill advisory is also in effect from 6 a.m. Friday through 10 a.m. Saturday. Feels-like wind chills will reach -10 in Philadelphia and -25 in the Poconos. 

Frostbite can occur on bare skin in as little as 30 minutes. Be sure to stay bundled up if you have to head out in this weather.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Many travelers are dealing with messy conditions and travel and it is not ideal. They are trying to battle it out in the rain to make it to their holiday destinations.

As the windshield wipers move back and forth, drivers are dealing with puddling on the roadways, fog, and downright messy conditions.

Even though the rain has arrived in the Philadelphia region, some drivers re-arranged their plans to beat what's coming Friday.

AAA says holiday travel projections are expected to reach near pre-pandemic levels. They say 1.3 million Philadelphia area residents will travel 50 miles or more this end-of-the-year holiday season.

90% of them plan to drive, paying the lowest gas prices since October 2021.

And from the ground to the air, AAA says 88,000 Philly area travelers chose to fly.

Philadelphia International Airport is trying to navigate delays and cancellations.

Thursday and Friday are their busiest days before Christmas.

AAA says as the temperatures plummet, make sure you check your tires and battery and have an emergency kit before you hit the road.

The weather is causing a travel nightmare. Lines are long, and flight cancellations and delays are piling up, disrupting one of the year's busiest travel days. And on top of that, some travelers are headed south for the Eagles-Cowboys game.

CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CBS) - Thursday's relentless rain didn't stop people in South Jersey from running out to do last-minute holiday shopping.

At the Cherry Hill Mall, hundreds of families packed into stores to buy last-minute gifts for their families, braving steady downpours in the parking lot.

"It's crazy," Antionette Williams said. "But still got to get out of here and get the last-minute shopping."

Shoppers also crowded the Wegmans in Cherry Hill to purchase groceries for their families a few days before Christmas.

"It's different," Mary Ekeabu said about the rain. "It's crazy but because it's the festive season, you have to do what you have to do."

Due to the slick roads, police departments are urging drivers to slow down and maintain enough following distance from the cars in front of them.

The following schools in our region are closed or dismissing early on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022 due to inclement weather.

Pennsylvania

Montgomery County

• Abington School District - closing early
• Lower Merion Township schools - closed
• Lower Moreland Township School District - early dismissal times moved up 30 minutes
• Mastery Philadelphia Schools - closed
• Perkiomen Valley School District - closed
• Pottsgrove School District - closed
• Jenkintown School District - 9:40 a.m. dismissal for middle/high schools; 10 a.m. dismissal for elementary
• Springfield Township - 11:15 a.m. dismissal for elementary; 10:25 a.m. dismissal for middle/high schools
• Spring-Ford Area School District - virtual instruction day
• Upper Perkiomen School District - virtual

Philadelphia County

• School District of Philadelphia - virtual

Chester County

• Octorara Area School District - transportation canceled
• Twin Valley School District - closed

Bucks County

• Bucks County Intermediate Schools - virtual
• Council Rock School District - closed
• Pennridge School District - closed

New Jersey

Camden County

• Mastery Camden Schools - closed

The Philadelphia Zoo says it will cancel Thursday's and Friday's LumiNature events because of the weather. The zoo refers to alternative dates next week and requests that visitors make reservations for the next week at philadelphiazoo.org/luminature.

The School District of Philadelphia is moving all classes to 100% virtual Friday as temperatures drop and slick roads are possible.

All district buildings and offices will be closed, and students will be taking Chromebooks home to log on to virtual class.

All afterschool and extracurricular activities are canceled Friday, the district said in a statement.

The five COVID-19 testing sites across the district will remain open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

By 4 p.m. Friday, we'll have temperatures that feel like the single digits in our region. Overnight and into Saturday, it could feel as cold as negative 11 degrees Fahrenheit.

But for early risers, it's going to feel unseasonably warm for a bit on Friday, approaching 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're leaving early on Friday, the NEXT Weather team has a warning for you: bring your coat when you leave the house!

The air temperature will feel mild in the early morning.  But after the early morning hours Friday, a blast of Arctic air will move in. 

If you leave home without a jacket, you could be caught in extremely cold temperatures.

Wind has been blowing and rain has been falling across our region since this morning. We've also seen sleet, freezing rain and snow in some areas.

Here are 3 things you need to know:

• The wind and rain will pick up in the afternoon, and the heaviest rain will fall between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• The strongest winds will happen late Thursday night through Friday night.. Gusts are expected between 30-50 mph
• Between 1 to 3 inches of rain could fall through late Thursday night. Flood watches have been issued for our area.

Depending on where you are headed, the winter storm could cancel flights and possibly even close roads in some states. The bitter cold could do a number on your car, especially as many people hit the road for the holidays.

Above, CBS Philadelphia's Ryan Hughes gives you some tips for keeping your car ready to go in the cold weather.  

The travel rush is in full swing as holiday travelers pack Philadelphia International Airport in hopes of arriving at their destinations before the winter storm impacts their travel. 

CBS3 reporter Wakisha Bailey was at the airport this morning where long lines were forming at TSA security checkpoints, but we were told it was only taking about 15 minutes to get through. 

The National Weather Service issued gale warnings for the Delaware and New Jersey coasts Thursday morning ahead of the winter storm.

The strongest winds are expected Friday.

A Winter Weather Advisory was issued Thursday including the following counties until 1 p.m.:

• Lehigh
• Carbon
• Northampton
• Monroe

All or part of the following counties are under a flood watch from NWS Thursday afternoon through Friday:

Pennsylvania

• Delaware County
• Philadelphia County
• Parts of Chester County
• Parts of Montgomery County
• Bucks County
• Lehigh County
• Carbon County
• Northampton County
• Monroe County

New Jersey

• Salem County
• Gloucester County
• Camden County
• Parts of Burlington County

Delaware

• New Castle County

The following counties in our region are under a Coastal Flood Advisory for Friday, December 23:

New Jersey

• Salem County
• Cumberland County
• Cape May County
• Atlantic County
• Parts of Burlington County
• Ocean County

Delaware

• Sussex County
• Kent County
• New Castle County

Dangerously cold temperatures are expected when a blast of arctic air hits our region Friday.

Montgomery County declared a "Code Blue" from Friday, December 23 through Tuesday, December 27.

The cold weather could threaten people without shelter or without adequate heating.

How to help your neighbor during a Code Blue

• Check on elderly folks to ensure their homes have proper heating.
• Call 911 if someone needs immediate assistance.
• If you or someone you know needs shelter from the cold, Montco residents can call Your Way Home at 211 or text their ZIP code to 898211.

Utility companies are preparing for a winter storm with high winds that could impact holiday travel and potentially cause power outages.

The storm Thursday night into Friday is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds that could bring down trees and impact power lines.

Safety tips if your power goes out

If you experience flooding, your heating system should be checked by a professional before running it.

Make sure you have proper ventilation if you need to run a gasoline powered generator. Don't run them in an enclosed space like a garage, or you could get carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you need to clear ice from your gas meter, be careful not to damage the meter, as this could cause a leak.