Happy Wednesday, Philly. After a run of cloudy days, we’ll be treated to sun and high temps in the low 50s today.
That’s a stark difference from 1996, when 2.5 feet of snow fell upon the region on Jan. 7 and 8. On the 30th anniversary of our biggest blizzard on record, see whether the atmosphere this year is expected to bring a good ol’ fashioned snowstorm.
But first: The results are in from the Philadelphia School District’s facilities planning survey. Read on to learn what parents and teachers said they want, including smaller classes and no school closures.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Survey says …
What do Philly parents, teachers, students, and community members want to happen to their neighborhood school buildings? For one, they want them to remain.
The city’s school district surveyed stakeholders on what they hope to see come of its slow-moving facilities master planning process, which is expected to yield big decisions this year about school closings and reconfigurations.
Some themes emerged, many of which will be tough for the cash-strapped district to balance:
✏️ No school closures, and instead, more investment in existing facilities
✏️ Smaller class sizes
✏️ More magnets to attract high-performing students
✏️ Upgraded resources, such as vocational programs, technology, and AP courses
Education reporter Kristen A. Graham has more takeaways from the survey.
Remembering the blizzard of ‘96
Thirty years ago, nearly 31 inches of snow fell on the region over two days — the largest blizzard in Philadelphia history. Millennials have never stopped romanticizing it.
Sure, in terms of record storms, we also got 29 inches in 2010, and just a decade ago, we got 22.
But more than two feet of snow to a kid? As Inquirer editorial writer Daniel Pearson noted in his ode to the Philly snow day, that’s magical.
As for this year, it’s tough to say whether we’ll get a big storm later on, but no flakes are expected in the short term. Friday may even hit 60 degrees.
Weather reporter Anthony R. Wood has more on the 2026 forecast.
Further watching: See Wood — who wrote the book on snow, literally — answer Philly’s most searched winter weather questions on the latest episode of The Inquirer’s Wooder Cooler.
What you should know today
- Five years after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Gov. Josh Shapiro and other Pennsylvania Democrats marked the Jan. 6 attack’s anniversary by sharply criticizing President Donald Trump.
- The explosion and resulting fire at a Bristol Township nursing home has resulted in a third death: a 66-year-old resident at the facility.
- A Philadelphia man is wanted in two killings since his 2015 murder conviction was overturned. His initial case was tainted by a disgraced detective.
- Police on Tuesday released the name of the officer who shot and wounded a knife-wielding man on New Year’s Eve in Strawberry Mansion.
- Long under fire for his behavior in office, Jack Tompkins has resigned as mayor of Pemberton Township in South Jersey. A new mayor will be selected Wednesday.
- The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters plans to relocate its headquarters and two training centers to the Navy Yard.
- The trolley tunnel that connects Center City and West Philadelphia is still closed as SEPTA tests repairs — but is “pretty close” to reopening, a spokesperson said Tuesday.
- More than 100 new restaurants and bars are opening in the city and suburbs this year, from a six-course tasting menu to a South Philly pretzel shop. Plus, restaurant reporter Mike Klein analyzes the trends in the 2026 dining forecast.
- Bucks County’s Trump Store is closing after six years. The shop thrived during the Biden administration, but Trump’s return to the White House has been bad for business, its owner said.
Quote of the day
El Carnaval de Puebla, one of the biggest yearly celebrations of Mexican culture in Philadelphia and on the East Coast, will not return in 2026 amid concerns over federal immigration activity.
🧠 Trivia time
Signage from which iconic shuttered Philadelphia eatery is now available for sale on Facebook Marketplace?
A) Little Pete’s
B) Melrose Diner
C) Bookbinder’s
D) Horn & Hardart
Think you know? Check your answer.
What (and whom) we’re …
🩸 Donating: Blood as post-holiday shortages loom.
⚡ Attending: Bowieoke and other Philly Loves Bowie Week events.
⛸️ Cheering on: The South Jersey skater aiming to join the U.S. Olympic team this week.
🛍️ Curious to see: Who will buy the Shops at Liberty Place.
🖥️ Considering: The impact of Grok’s alarming deepfakes of children.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Convenience store rival
ZEST HE
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Colby Tecklin, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Haddon. The company that owns P.J. Whelihan’s, which is headquartered in the Camden County township, may be moving into a former Iron Hill Brewery in Bucks County.
Photo of the day
Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday, even if it feels like this post-holiday week should already be long over. See ya back here tomorrow.
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