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The U.S. Coast Guard is attempting to free a cargo ship that ran aground Wednesday night along the Delaware River in Philadelphia.

The 623-foot motor vessel, named “Algoma Verity,” became stuck outside the main shipping channel about a mile north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The cause of the incident is currently unknown, according to the Coast Guard.

The ship was carrying about 45,000 tons of solar salt, which is commonly used for water softening. There have been no reports of pollution, and the Coast Guard is monitoring the situation.

The Coast Guard is working on a plan to safely move the vessel to a nearby terminal. Vessel traffic is currently restricted between the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Tioga Marine terminal.

GEORGETOWN, Del. – Georgetown Police have issued an alert advising area residents to shelter in place due to a hazardous materials incident stemming from the local Perdue plant.

According to the Georgetown Fire Company, as of 7 p.m., Wednesday fire crews, Sussex County public safety personnel, DNREC officials, and members with the Delaware State Fire School were on the scene of a hazardous materials incident at the Perdue processing plant on Savannah Road in Georgetown.

While details remain limited at this time, officials are emphasizing the need for the immediate area, within a half-mile radius of the Perdue plant, to shelter in place and stay inside until further notice.

WMDT’s Rob Petree spoke to Georgetown Mayor Bill West who said the incident stemmed from two chemicals being mixed together at the facility.

“We’ve had somebody mix two chemicals together at the Perdue plant that has put off a smell,” Mayor West explained. “We’ve got a chemist in route to tell us what they are and if there’s anything we need to do.”

Mayor West urged area residents to abide by the order and not go outside for the time being.

“Hopefully, it’ll be chemicals just to do some cleaning and it won’t affect people, but we just wanted to put the alert out to tell people to shelter inside, and stay there until they get the second alert that everything’s ok. Just stay inside until we get a handle on this because we know that the wind is pushing the smell and people are concerned.”

Details still remain limited at this time when it comes to the nature of what those chemicals are, but the shelter in place order remains in effect for that area. We will of course bring you the latest as soon as additional information is made available.

We’re in for another round of snow in the Philadelphia region this weekend though much less than what we saw on Monday. Here’s what you need to know. 

Cold temperatures continue 

We’ll stay dry through the rest of the week, but the cold weather lingers. Gusty winds from Wednesday and Thursday will finally ease as high pressure builds into the area on Friday. Temperatures will nudge upward to 36° by Friday afternoon, though that’s still below the normal high of 42°.

Light snow in Philly region Saturday morning 

As we head into the weekend, our stretch of dry days comes to an end. Clouds will increase late Friday ahead of a weak system. Early Saturday morning, with temperatures in the 20s, this system is expected to bring light snow to all of our neighborhoods. The snowfall will be brief and minimal, exiting by late Saturday morning, followed by clearing skies in the afternoon.

How much snow will fall on Saturday? 

Thanks to dry air and limited moisture, snowfall amounts will be light—most areas will see an inch or less. However, parts of Delaware and South Jersey, closer to the system’s southern track, may pick up 1–2 inches. These are early estimates, but all signs point to a minimal event, far less impactful than last Monday’s storm. Saturday afternoon will feature sunshine but stay cold, with highs in the mid-30s.

What’s the forecast for the Eagles wild card game? 

Sunday remains clear and cold, with highs around 37°. For the Eagles game at 4:30 p.m., temperatures will start in the upper 30s and drop to the lower 30s by the fourth quarter under clear skies. Go Eagles!

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