A long dreaded winter arrived in full force this week, creating traffic troubles and line-ups at local tire stores.
City snow clearing crews were out in the early morning hours Thursday work to clear the streets after the region was hit with about 10 centimetres of snow.
Public works director Glenn Tompolski said crews were ready to go when the snow finally stopped and were able to get onto the roads quickly.
“We were pretty well prepared. If anything, we were surprised by the amount we got and the amount of blowing snow.”
Tompolski said on Thursday that he believed the snow clearing would meet all of the city’s targets.
“We figure by tonight at midnight we should have everything done.”
The city aims to have all arterial roads clear within the first 12 hours of a snowfall and clearing all collector roads within 24 hours.
Residential streets are only cleared when there is a 15-centimetre snow pack on the ground, which Tompolski said is far off.
“It wouldn’t be even close to meeting the thresholds just yet.”
Tompolski said a later snowfall is good for the snow clearing budget, but that will only work if the rest of the winter co-operates.
“Until the winter is over it is really too early to tell.”
The snowfall is a little later than many years, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Dan Kulak, but not completely out of the ordinary.
“We usually get something on the ground in the first half of November.”
People wanting to navigate the newly dusted streets with new winter tires will find they may have to wait as local tire shops are overwhelmed.
Dave Puittinen, an assistant manager at Kal Tire said his store has been working virtually around the clock to try and help customers, but they still have a sizeable wait.
“Everybody wants them all at once because everybody waited until the last minute, because of the common misconception that snow tires will wear out if the roads are bare.”
When the temperature starts to drop and it’s at least 7 C or colder, that’s the time to get the snow tires on, he said.
Puttinen said the wait at his store is not abnormally long, but people should be prepared to be patient.
“We try our best to get everybody looked after. I am not booking two weeks in advance or anything, but in most cases it is drop it off today and I will get it to you the next day.”
As of Friday afternoon there was no further snow in the forecast, but cold temperatures were expected to continue through the rest of the weekend.
