Northern Alberta Communities Update Snow Clearing Strategies After Record Winter Snowfall

Snow Clearing Adjustments Follow Historic Winter Snowfall

After experiencing record-breaking snowfall last winter, several northern Alberta communities are revising their snow clearing policies and procedures. Municipalities such as Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie are introducing new snowplowing strategies in response to overwhelming precipitation and community feedback.

Fort McMurray Reacts to Doubling of Average Snowfall

According to Brian Proctor, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fort McMurray recorded nearly double its average precipitation from December to March last winter. "Last winter was a big outlier," Proctor said, highlighting the challenges posed by unusually heavy snow. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB), which oversees Fort McMurray, has since updated its urban snow and ice control policy to better manage severe winter conditions.

Early Snowfall in Fort McMurray Triggers Response

Despite being only October, Fort McMurray experienced an early significant snowfall, described by Proctor as "anomalous." This prompted the RMWB to activate its extreme weather response, which includes reallocating resources and enacting rolling parking bans to facilitate rapid snow removal. Keith Smith, RMWB's director of public works, stated that these measures help ensure streets are cleared efficiently and safely.

Key Municipal Policy Changes in Fort McMurray

This year, the RMWB has made several policy adjustments:

• Snowplowing operations can now continue through holidays.
• Vehicles parked on streets during snow clearing will no longer be sent to an impound lot; instead, they will be towed to a nearby street to speed up the process.
• The online snowplow progress map is updated daily to keep residents informed.

Smith recommends residents familiarize themselves with their snowplow zones and avoid placing snow from their properties onto roadways. He noted improved compliance and positive community feedback since implementing these changes.

Grande Prairie Introduces New Snow Storage Practices

Grande Prairie is also adopting different snowplowing strategies this season. Mayor Jackie Clayton highlighted a significant change in snow storage: on residential streets with two sidewalks, snow will be stored on one sidewalk, alternating locations each year. This aims to improve on-street parking and reduce the amount of snow that needs to be hauled away, enabling snow-clearing crews to focus on additional priorities.

Residents will not be ticketed for unshovelled sidewalks designated for snow storage. The decision was influenced by feedback requesting more efficient use of municipal resources. Previously, snow would be split between parking lanes on either side of residential streets.

Winter Weather Predictions and Regional Impacts

Meteorologist Brian Proctor forecasts that while there may be some large snowfalls early in the season, this winter in northern Alberta is expected to be relatively typical for precipitation. However, as it is an El Niño year, warmer temperatures and potentially less snow overall are anticipated. These factors influence road safety considerations and municipal policy for snow clearing in the region.

Source: cbc.ca.