Snow tires and snowblowers were flying off the shelves this week as city residents stocked up for winter.
Local stores reached by the Gazette this week reported an unusual spike in their sales of winter equipment — unusual in that there wasn’t a single flake of snow on the ground as of Nov. 10.
Adam Moynes at Canadian Tire says his outlet usually moves four to 10 snowblowers by this time of year. “This year we’re probably up to 60 to 70,” he says, and they’ve already had to restock on shovels. Many customers bought theirs back in September, he adds.
Ali Arafat over at Kal Tire says his shop has been servicing about 60 cars a day — about 30 per cent more than they’d usually do at this time of year — most of the business having to do with the sale or installation of winter tires.
“On Saturday (Nov. 5), we put through 72 vehicles,” he notes — a record for the store. “This has been the busiest week we’ve seen, and it hasn’t even snowed yet.”
Snow has been slow arriving in Canada, notes David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada, with most regions reporting little to no snowfall.
“Just because you started slow doesn’t mean you’re going to end that way,” he adds.
Edmonton was below average for snowfall at this time last year, but finished the winter with about 160 centimetres, about 40 more than average. Much of that fell in January; St. Albert got about a month’s worth of snow in a week, according to Environment Canada.
This year’s winter will be similar to the last, Phillips says, as it’s once again under the influence of the ocean-atmospheric phenomenon known as La NiĹ„a. “It’s been described as dĂ©jĹ• vu.”
While American forecasters are predicting a “winter from hell,” his department’s forecast suggests one that will be colder than average in Alberta with average to above average amounts of snow. “If you’ve bought snow tires, you’ll use them.” Much of that snow could be delayed until January, he notes, if previous La NiĹ„a years are any indication.
Calgary has already been hit with its first dump of the white stuff, notes Don Szarko, spokesperson for the Alberta Motor Association. “It always amazes us how it takes the first two snowstorms for Alberta drivers to finally realize that they are driving in winter driving conditions.”
Szarko says he suspects many people are getting ready early this year because they remember the snowstorms of last winter, which caught many unprepared.
“We couldn’t even get our tow-trucks into neighbourhoods.”
Most major outlets still have warehouses full of winter tires, Arafat says, but some smaller retailers may be running short. Any winter tire you get should have Transport Canada’s symbol of extreme weather certification on it, he notes (a mountain with three peaks and a snowflake in the middle of it), and be less than five years old.
Szarko encourages drivers to get their car’s oil, tires and batteries checked before the snow hits, and to get an emergency kit that includes a blanket. See www.ama.ab.ca for other winter driving tips.
