More than 100 centimeters of snow has fallen in Sault Ste. Marie in just over a week, leading to snow accumulation in downtown parking lots-but crews are working to clear the way.
Winter Storms Bury Sault ste. Marie in Record Snowfall
City officials say snow removal efforts are underway after a relentless series of storms.
- Sault Ste. Marie experienced the fifth snowiest December on record.
- Over 100 cm of snow has accumulated sence Dec. 27.
- City parking lots are being cleared this week.
- Extreme weather briefly shut down the local airport.
What’s the latest on the snow removal in Sault Ste.Marie? City crews are actively removing snow from downtown parking lots this week, following a period of intense winter weather that has blanketed the city.
The city experienced the fifth snowiest December on record, with nearly 45 centimeters of snow falling in the final days of the month. The heavy snowfall continued into the new year, resulting in snow piles forming in parking areas after initial clearing efforts.
“City parking lots are maintained by a contractor through our transit department,” said Nicole Maione,director of community services. “The contractor has informed us that they will be working on removing snow from downtown parking lots this week.”
The extreme winter weather over the holiday season also caused significant disruptions, virtually shutting down the local airport as unsafe conditions grounded commercial flights. There wasn’t much respite in the first week of January, as the storms continued to batter the region.
“The City of Sault Ste. Marie has received approximately 90 cm of snow over the past seven days, with another 15 cm falling Sunday night into Monday morning of this week. This brings the total to more than 100 cm of snow in a little over one week,” said Dan Perri, director of public works.
Explanation of Changes & Answers to Questions:
* Why: A series of relentless winter storms, combined with lake-effect snow, caused record snowfall in Sault Ste. Marie.
* Who: The City of Sault Ste. Marie, its residents, travelers (due to airport closures), and city crews/contractors are all affected. Key individuals mentioned are Nicole Maione (Director of Community Services) and Dan Perri (Director of Public works).
* What: Sault Ste. Marie experienced the fifth snowiest December on record, accumulating over 100 centimeters of snow in just over a week. This led to disruptions,including airport closures and snow accumulation in parking lots.
* How did it end? The situation is ongoing, but city crews and contractors are actively working to clear snow from downtown parking lots. While the immediate crisis of airport closure has passed, the city continues to manage the significant snow accumulation.
