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Pennsylvania Winter Weather 2026/27: December Blizzard Survival Guide
Philadelphia, PA – A powerful December blizzard could leave Pennsylvania residents facing buried vehicles, frozen plumbing, dangerous wind chills and power outages lasting several days. With winter 20
By Marcus Hale · 2026-11-15T17:22:03.898Z
Philadelphia, PA – A powerful December blizzard could leave Pennsylvania residents facing buried vehicles, frozen plumbing, dangerous wind chills and power outages lasting several days. With winter 2026/27 approaching, homeowners across Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area and communities throughout Pennsylvania should prepare before heavy snow, freezing rain and damaging winds create dangerous conditions.
According to the National Weather Service and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, winter storms can produce substantial snowfall, dangerous wind chills, ice accumulation and widespread travel disruptions. Northwestern Pennsylvania faces intense lake effect snow, while the Pocono Mountains, central Pennsylvania and southeastern communities experience different winter hazards.
Here are 10 critical steps Pennsylvania residents should take before a December blizzard threatens their homes.
1. Inspect Your Roof Before Heavy Snow Creates Structural Danger Heavy, wet snow can place substantial weight on Pennsylvania roofs, particularly when freezing rain follows earlier snowfall.
Inspect shingles, flashing, gutters and attic spaces for existing damage.
Homeowners in Erie, Scranton, Wilkes Barre and the Pocono Mountains should pay particular attention to older roofs and areas where snow accumulates unevenly.
Philadelphia residents with flat roofed rowhouses should inspect roof drains and drainage outlets for blockages.
Watch for sagging ceilings, new cracks or unusual structural noises. Never climb onto an icy roof to remove snow.
2. Protect Water Pipes Before Freezing Temperatures Arrive Frozen pipes can burst and cause extensive interior flooding.
Insulate exposed plumbing in basements, crawl spaces, garages and exterior walls.
Disconnect garden hoses, protect outdoor faucets and locate the home's main water shutoff valve.
Older Philadelphia and Pittsburgh homes may contain plumbing routed through poorly insulated exterior walls.
Residents in northern Pennsylvania, including Bradford, Potter and McKean counties, should prepare for prolonged periods of extreme cold.
Maintain indoor heating when traveling and open cabinet doors beneath vulnerable sinks during severe cold.
3. Service Your Furnace, Boiler or Heat Pump Before December A heating failure during a major winter storm can quickly become a household emergency.
Schedule professional inspections of natural gas furnaces, oil fired boilers, propane systems and heat pumps.
Replace appropriate filters, check heating fuel supplies and verify that thermostats operate correctly.
Residents using fireplaces, pellet stoves or wood burning equipment should arrange chimney inspections and cleaning when needed.
Keep outdoor heating exhaust outlets clear of drifting snow.
4. Prepare for Power Outages That Could Last Several Days Heavy snow, freezing rain and strong winds can bring down trees and electrical lines.
Wooded communities throughout the Allegheny Mountains, Poconos and rural central Pennsylvania may face additional challenges when fallen trees block roads and utility access.
Keep flashlights, batteries, charged power banks and emergency radios accessible.
Households relying on electrically powered medical devices should establish backup arrangements.
Portable generators must operate outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, with exhaust directed away from buildings.
Never operate generators inside garages, basements or enclosed porches.
5. Build a Blizzard Emergency Supply Kit Maintain at least three days of emergency supplies, with additional provisions for households in isolated or mountainous areas.
Store one gallon of drinking water per person daily, nonperishable food, prescription medications, blankets, first aid equipment and pet supplies.
Residents in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania Wilds and rural northern counties should consider additional provisions if snow or fallen trees temporarily block roads.
Homes relying on electrically powered private wells should store additional water.
Keep essential supplies accessible without needing to enter an unheated garage or outdoor shed.
6. Prevent Ice Dams and Expensive Interior Water Damage Ice dams develop when melting roof snow refreezes near colder roof edges, potentially forcing water beneath roofing materials.
Inspect attic insulation, seal accessible air leaks and maintain appropriate ventilation.
Replace deteriorated weatherstripping around windows and exterior doors.
Homes experiencing recurring ice dams should receive professional evaluations before significant snowfall develops.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh homeowners with flat roofs should ensure drainage systems remain unobstructed.
Avoid attempting dangerous roof repairs during icy conditions.
7. Remove Hazardous Tree Limbs Before Snow and Ice Strike Heavy, wet snow and freezing rain can break weakened branches, damaging homes, vehicles and electrical infrastructure.
Inspect trees near roofs, garages, driveways and overhead utility lines.
Arrange professional removal of dead or unstable limbs.
Residents in wooded communities throughout Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties should pay particular attention to branches overhanging homes and access roads.
Never approach fallen electrical wires or attempt to remove branches touching power lines.
8. Prepare Snowblowers, Driveways and Emergency Access A major snowstorm can block driveways, sidewalks, exterior doors and emergency access routes.
Inspect snowblowers, shovels and ice melting supplies before December.
Check equipment condition and store fuel safely.
Philadelphia residents should review city snow emergency parking restrictions and sidewalk clearing requirements. Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Allentown and other municipalities may enforce different local rules.
Keep exterior stairways, heating appliance vents, emergency exits and nearby fire hydrants accessible.
Avoid overexertion while shoveling, particularly if you have cardiovascular risk factors.
9. Test Carbon Monoxide Detectors Before Using Backup Heat Carbon monoxide poisoning becomes a serious concern when heating equipment malfunctions or generators are used improperly.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries or devices according to manufacturer instructions.
Deep snow can obstruct vehicle exhaust pipes, creating additional dangers when engines are running.
Never operate a vehicle with its tailpipe blocked by snow.
Keep generator exhaust away from buildings and never use charcoal grills, camping stoves or kitchen ovens to heat indoor spaces.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of possible carbon monoxide exposure should move to fresh air immediately and call 911.
10. Establish a Family Blizzard Emergency Plan Identify where household members can safely shelter if electricity or heating becomes unavailable.
Keep emergency contacts written down and locate municipal warming centers when officials announce their availability.
Check on older neighbors, residents with disabilities and people living alone.
Monitor National Weather Service forecasts, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency announcements and 511PA road conditions.
Avoid unnecessary travel during blizzard warnings, especially along Interstate 80, Interstate 81, Interstate 76, Interstate 79 and Interstate 90.
Pennsylvania Turnpike travelers should also monitor restrictions affecting commercial vehicles, speed limits and road closures during severe winter storms.
Why December Preparation Matters for Pennsylvania Winter 2026/27 Winter weather risks vary considerably across Pennsylvania.
Erie and northwestern Pennsylvania can experience intense lake effect snow from Lake Erie, occasionally producing rapidly changing visibility and substantial accumulation.
Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania face snow, freezing rain and hazardous travel across steep hills and bridges.
Scranton, Wilkes Barre and the Pocono Mountains may experience significant snowfall, drifting snow and prolonged freezing temperatures.
Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County and southeastern Pennsylvania can experience powerful nor'easters, heavy wet snow, freezing rain and widespread transportation disruptions.
Although this preparedness guide does not predict a specific December blizzard, severe winter storms remain a recurring seasonal threat.
Waiting until a winter storm warning is issued can leave households scrambling for heating fuel, emergency supplies, snow removal equipment and backup power.
For Pennsylvania residents, completing these 10 preparations before December storms develop could mean the difference between safely weathering a major winter event and facing frozen plumbing, heating failures, expensive property damage or dangerous emergency travel.