Philadelphia schools will close at 12 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26, due to heavy snow and strong wind in the forecast for the area, the Philadelphia School District has announced. All after-school activities, including all athletic programs and professional development classes, are canceled for the day.

An estimated 6 to 12 inches of snow is expected in the Philadelphia area, according to Accuweather.com. Please stay tuned for more weather-related announcements and alerts as the city is preparing for the first major snowstorm this winter.

UPDATE (1:00 p.m.) The snow emergency was lifted at 11 a.m. this morning and it is now safe to park on all snow emergency routes.

(9:00 a.m.): A snow emergency was declared in the city at 10 p.m. on Sunday. If you parked your car on any of the snow emergency routes and haven’t moved it yet, please do so as soon as possible. Here are snow emergency routes in West Philadelphia:

• Chestnut Street from Cobbs Creek Parkway to 20th Street
• Walnut Street from Broad Street to Cobbs Creek Parkway
• Woodland Avenue from Cobbs Creek Parkway to University Avenue
• 34th Street from University Avenue to Grays Ferry Avenue
• 38th Street from Walnut to University Avenue
• 63rd Street from City Avenue to Walnut Street
• University Avenue from 38th Street to 34th Street
• Island Avenue from Woodland Avenue to Enterprise Avenue
• Cobbs Creek Parkway from Walnut Street to Woodland Avenue
• Schuylkill Avenue from Market Street to Walnut Street

Monday’s trash and recycling collections are suspended until next Monday. Also, there will be no rear driveway collections this week so please leave all trash and recycling at the curb. For more information, visit the Streets Department website.

All Philadelphia public schools, after-school and early childhood programs will be closed for students on Monday, March 3, due to another round of severe weather expected in the area, the Philadelphia School District announced this evening. Parochial schools will also be closed, according to an earlier announcement by Philadelphia Archdiocese.

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 1 p.m. on Monday, March 3, with some sleet and freezing rain expected at the start and snow accumulation between three and seven inches, according to Accuweather.com. Stay tuned to other weather-related announcements.

The snow emergency declared by the city of Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon will remain in effect until 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Please avoid parking on snow emergency routes until that time. If you did park on one of the emergency routes and your car has been towed please call 215-686-SNOW to find out where it is. More information on snow emergency routes can be found here.

And here are a couple of beautiful photos of The Woodlands Cemetery during yesterday’s snowstorm taken by West Philly Local reader Katy. You can check out more photos here.

West Philly Local has already reported about public and parochial school closings this Wednesday due to the continuing snowstorm. Here’s what else local authorities want you to know:

– Regular Tuesday garbage and recycling collections have been cancelled. If your regular pick-up day is Tuesday please hold your trash until next week.

– With the current snowfall projections, the City expects to treat and plow all residential streets within 48 to 72 hours after the snow ends. All property owners are required to clear a path of at least three feet in front of their property within 6 hours of the snow event ending, including curb cuts.

– If you observe a homeless person(s) in need of assistance please contact the Project Home Outreach Hotline (215-232-1984). During the call, please provide the address, location and description of the person in need.

West Philly Local reader D.W. sent over this photo with the following comment: “It seems like someone had the right idea as I pulled into my parking spot after a 4 hour commute that normally takes one hour thanks to the heavy traffic. Should have packed the skis this morning.”

The snow continues to fall in what looks like the worst snowstorm of the year. Be careful out there!

Photo by Annamarya Scaccia.