Kamloops, Jan 9/24 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

WINTER ARRIVES

With more snow forecast, Kamloops residential streets could be waiting a few days for plows

Jan 9, 2024 | 5:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops got its first taste of winter Tuesday night (Jan. 9) as the city received a six-centimetre dump of snow according to Environment Canada, which measures at the airport.

Following the community’s largest widespread snowfall of winter so far, City of Kamloops crews are aiming to clean up the remains before temperatures drastically drop.

The first true snowfall led to Kamloops Fire Rescue responding to 11 motor vehicle accidents as roads became incredibly slick. But, thanks to a 33-person crew, the city has a number of main roads cleared down to bare pavement.

“We are working through our services levels of attacking arterials, then collectors, then locals. As of noon on Tuesday afternoon, things are looking pretty good from an arterial and collector road perspective. We start into our local roads into later in the day,” said City of Kamloops Streets and Environmental Manager Glen Farrow.

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Despite the work from the city, with more snow expected overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday, it could take some time before crews are able to start clearing residential streets throughout Kamloops.

“Depending on where you are situated within each particular zone, you may not see your local road plowed until Thursday or Friday — again, based on the amount of snow where are anticipating over the next 24 hours,” highlighted Farrow.

Another concern for Farrow is forecast temperatures set to hit -20 C by the end of the week, which will have the crews switching tactics utilizing more sand as temperatures drop.

“There is definitely concerns as we see compacted snow turning to ice, the sooner we can get back to asphalt the safer it will be and prepare us more for the next event. But we are in a series of events right now and trying to do the best we can to get the most amount of material off the road in advance of the colder temperatures at are expected to come,” said Farrow.