February storming into the record books

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This article was published 19/02/2022 (1040 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If it feels like you’ve been shovelling more snow than usual this February — that’s because you have been.

February 2022 is the snowiest February Winnipeg has seen since 1962. With eight days left in the month, it already sits at sixth on the list of Winnipeg’s all-time snowiest Februarys on record.

That’s according to data compiled by retired meteorologist and blogger Rob Paola, who calculates that this February has been three times more snowy than average.

It also looks like the city could hit the 200-centimetre of snowfall milestone by the end of winter. If that happens, it will be the snowiest winter in Winnipeg since 1996-97.

Winnipeg has seen 156 centimetres of snowfall so far.

The city was walloped again on the long weekend, with snowfall, strong winds and heavy drifting. As a result, the City of Winnipeg launched a major snow clearing operation.

Work crews are clearing streets, back lanes, sidewalks and active transportation networks on a priority basis, beginning with regional streets and major routes, followed by bus routes and collector streets.

Municipal work crews are salting and sanding traffic infrastructure across the city to improve traction “as conditions warrant.”

The city also extended snow route parking bans.

The extended snow route parking ban tacks on an additional two hours of parking restrictions on the annual snow route parking ban. As a result, vehicles cannot be parked on snow routes between the hours of midnight and 7 a.m.

Vehicles caught violating the parking ban will be targeted with a $100 ticket and may be towed.

“The Extended Snow Route Parking Ban will be in place until snow clearing is completed and the public will be notified when the ban is lifted. At such time, the Annual Snow Route Parking Ban will continue,” the city said in a written statement.

Work crews are scheduled to begin clearing residential streets at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. The city advises residents to check the “Know Your Zone” system to learn when their neighbourhood is scheduled to be cleared.

Vehicles caught violating the residential parking ban will be ticketed $200 and may be towed.

“Motorists are reminded to drive to conditions and to use extreme caution when driving near heavy equipment working,” the city said.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca