The absence of snow in Philadelphia has benefited Pennsylvania’s budget, allowing the “snowy day” funds to be redirected to other regional projects, including repairing potholes on state-maintained roads and highways, writes Isaac Avilucea for AXIOS.

Philadelphia’s snowfall in recent years has been far below the average of 23.1 inches annually, resulting in nearly $2 million in savings for the state over the last six winters.

For the current winter season, the city and nearby areas are forecasted to receive between 14 and 24 inches of snow, with state officials projecting snow removal expenses in Philadelphia County at $4.1 million, compared to $5.1 million during the 2024-25 season.

In addition to experiencing less snow, Philadelphians have been enjoying longer periods without using shovels and snowblowers in recent years, as the first measurable snowfall now comes later, influenced in part by global warming, which has affected snowfall across the United States over the past fifty years.

Over the last six winters, the city has twice recorded a record-low 0.3 inches of snow, most recently in the 2022-23 season, resulting in roughly $800,000 in savings for PennDOT’s local snow removal efforts that year.

Read more about how the snow drought has benefited the state’s budget in AXIOS.

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