Philadelphia is about to get a serious reality check from Mother Nature. Honestly, if you’ve been enjoying the weirdly mild stretches we sometimes get in January, Saturday is going to feel like a bit of a betrayal. We aren’t just talking about "light jacket" weather anymore.
The weather in Philadelphia on Saturday, January 24, 2026, is shaping up to be one of the coldest stretches we've seen this month. We are looking at a high of just 18°F. Yeah, you read that right. Eighteen.
What’s actually happening out there?
The sky will be doing its best to look inviting with partly sunny conditions during the day, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's warm. That sun is basically decorative at this point. By the time the sun goes down, it’ll shift to mostly cloudy, and the low is going to bottom out at 10°F.
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If you’re planning on heading out to see Taylor Tomlinson at The Met or catching the Sunburn Tour at Franklin Music Hall, you better layer up like you're heading to the Arctic. We’re talking thermals, the heavy puffer, and maybe those wool socks you usually save for a blizzard.
The Flake Factor
Is it going to snow? Sorta.
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The forecast shows a 5% chance of snow during the day, which jumps slightly to 10% at night. It’s not exactly a "bread and milk" emergency level of snow. It’s more like "you might see a stray flake while walking to the car" kind of situation.
The real story isn't the moisture—it's the wind. We’ve got a steady breeze coming from the north at about 11 mph. In the city, where the buildings create those weird wind tunnels, that 11 mph wind is going to make 18°F feel significantly more biting.
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Why this deep freeze matters for your weekend
Look, nobody loves a 10-degree night, but there’s a silver lining here. The air is going to be incredibly dry, with humidity hovering around 24%. For anyone who hates that damp, bone-chilling cold that usually sits over the Delaware Valley, this "dry cold" is actually a bit easier to manage if you're moving around.
- RiverRink Winterfest: If you’re heading to Penn’s Landing, the ice is going to be in peak condition. No slush. Just hard, fast ice.
- The Auto Show: It’s basically the perfect weekend to go to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. It’s huge, it’s heated, and you can pretend winter doesn't exist for a few hours.
- Dining Out: If you’re doing Center City District Restaurant Week, definitely grab an Uber. Walking six blocks in 10-degree weather after a nice meal is a quick way to ruin the vibe.
Navigating the Saturday chill
Basically, Saturday is a day for indoor wins. If you've been putting off those museum trips—the Barnes Foundation or the Art Museum—this is your sign. The city is going to be quieter. The crowds at the Reading Terminal Market might even be a little thinner because people are hiding under their blankets.
You’ve got to watch out for the "hard freeze" on the sidewalks, too. Even though the precipitation chance is low, any lingering moisture from earlier in the week is going to be solid ice. North Philly and the neighborhoods with less sun exposure will be especially slick.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your pipes: With a low of 10°F, make sure your heat is set high enough to keep those exterior-wall pipes from getting ideas.
- Layering 101: Wear a moisture-wicking base, an insulating middle (fleece or wool), and a wind-blocking outer shell.
- Charge your tech: Cold kills phone batteries. If you’re walking around the city, keep your phone in an internal pocket close to your body heat.
- Salt the stoop: Even if it doesn't snow, the frost on Saturday morning will be real. A little salt goes a long way.