Snowfall Clean-Up Continues, Update on Totals

The Okanagan got hit fairly hard with snow over the weekend — but nothing like some other areas of BC.

Places like Fernie, Sparwood and Chilliwack got up to 60 centimetres.

Meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau from Environment Canada updates the local accumulations.

“In Vernon, the reports that came in has 17.8 centimetres of snow. In Kelowna, we saw 21.8 centimetres of snow.”

Charbonneau says we will get a break from the snow for a few days before it returns Thursday.

“We’re looking at mainly cloudy conditions with a chance of flurries Tuesday and Wednesday, and then as we move to the latter part of the week, the snow is comign back.”

Many schools in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island cancelled classes today due to the snow.

City of Vernon crews are continuing the job of cleaning up after the significant snow fall over the weekend.

The trucks and equipment are responsible for plowing and sanding the 590 lane kilometres of roads and 29 kilometres of lanes within the city’s boundary.

The main roads are first up, followed by residential roads and lanes, and then cul-de-sacs if there is a significant accumulation of snow.

The city applies a liquid de-icer to many of the main roads prior to a snowfall.

“Liquid de-icer is used to stop snow and ice from bonding to the pavement allowing the road to return to a bare surface soon after it is plowed,” says a city news release

Following a large snow fall or a series of snow falls, roads can become narrow making driving more challenging. Residents can help this situation by plowing snow from driveways and sidewalks back onto private property and not onto the road way. Motorists are also reminded to slow down and stay back from plow trucks.