Heavy snowfall in the Hay River area this month has presented some challenges compared to last year, but weather data shows amounts arenSA国际影视传媒檛 out of the ordinary.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, this month saw low snowfall up until Feb. 12 and 14, when there were single day amounts of 5.4 cm and 5 cm, respectively.

As of Friday there had been 16.9 cm during the month.

Meteorologist Sara Hoffman said NAV Canada provides unofficial snowfall data from the Hay River airport. The federal government officially recognizes winter as Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, and up to Feb. 16, Hay River has seen 57.7 cm of snow.

Comparatively over the whole winter of 2021, there was only 34.2 cm of snow.

The historical average of winter snowfall measurements in town, based on data stretching back to 1944, is 62.5 cm.

SA国际影视传媒淪o last year was well below a normal snowfall year if you compared it to an average year,SA国际影视传媒� Hoffman said. SA国际影视传媒淚f you compare 2021 to this year, this year might feel like more than usual.SA国际影视传媒�

She added that she doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 expect this year to stand out as a heavy snowfall year, either, when comparing it to winters of the recent past. In 2017, for example, there was 152 cm of snow over the winter.

Temperature-wise, the town has seen average numbers up to Feb. 16.

For winter 2022, the seasonal average temperature has been -23.7 C, while a typical Hay River winter sees an average temperature of -21.3 C.

Glenn Smith, senior administrative officer, said the town conducts daily monitoring of the weather forecasts and he said this monthSA国际影视传媒檚 snowfall has put pressure on the townSA国际影视传媒檚 procedures for snow clearing and road maintenance.

SA国际影视传媒淐oming into February we had fairly favourable conditions this winter for snow removal,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淔ebruary has been challenging with extreme fluctuations in temperatures and frequent periods of precipitation.

SA国际影视传媒淔ebruary and early November presented some challenges with keeping up with demand. Overall, weSA国际影视传媒檝e seen improvements to winter road and sidewalk maintenance procedures.SA国际影视传媒�

He added that the municipality follows a SA国际影视传媒減rioritized scheduleSA国际影视传媒� when it comes to clearing snow. During clearance cycles this month, it has not been uncommon to have to restart those cycles before finishing a job.

The town has had to rely on additional help from private contractors in town to help with snow-clearing efforts.

Smith said he expects the latest snowfalls to likely have little effect moving into the spring flood season, however, it will be important to monitor regional snowpack data as April approaches.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e got over two months of snowfall ahead of us (and weSA国际影视传媒檙e) crossing (our) fingers that those months can be calmer and we get a favourable snow melt season,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Anecdotally, Hoffman said the spring and fall have the highest snowfall amounts during a year because the winter is typically so cold.

Chuck Lirette, trail and maintenance supervisor with the Hay River Ski club, said the trails have required extra effort to be conditioned for use.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had to pack down all of the trails I think three times in the last week so that we could finally get out there with the groomers and groom them and put down a classic track,SA国际影视传媒� he said, estimating there is about three feet or 91 cm of snow in the area.

SA国际影视传媒淭here was a lot of work and a lot of packing, but we covered our trails and theySA国际影视传媒檙e good to go.SA国际影视传媒�