by Logan Gruber
operations@thenewsleaders.com
Snow caused a headache for commuters on the last night of November and the first morning of December.
About 5 inches of snow fell Monday night into Tuesday, bringing city crews out in earnest to clear roads and provide safe travel for residents. Sauk Rapids Public Works Director Pete Eckhoff said the city used the following equipment for initial street plowing: seven large plow trucks, one road grader, one skidloader with a snowplow and two pickup plows.
Even though the snow was wet, Eckhoff said city staff did well. He did note one of the plow trucks did breakdown though they were able to use a spare.
Eckhoff said the first snowfall is always stressful, as the ground hasn’t frozen yet which causes problems with any road which isn’t paved like alleyways or sod on the side of the road. He called in his crew around 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
Driver expectations were something Eckhoff asked people to adjust. While the state can plow 24-hours per day, the city only has one driver for every piece of equipment so they have to time it just right with the storm.
While some vehicles were parked in the way of plows, Eckhoff said the first snow is always a good wake-up call for drivers.
Bob Weisman, meteorology professor at St. Cloud State University’s Atmospheric and Hydrologic Sciences Department, said 6.6 inches of snow had fallen at SCSU as of 4 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Weisman said he doesn’t foresee any more snow for the rest of the week, and in fact a good chunk of it will likely melt. On average, December is the St. Cloud area’s snowiest month with 10.5 inches on average. As of Wednesday, the area was about 2 inches below average for snowfall.
Vehicles pass over Second Street N. on Benton Drive the morning of Dec. 1. Snowfall Monday afternoon through early Tuesday caused a headache for drivers on their Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes.
Vehicles wait at the stoplight at Benton Drive and Second Street N. on Tuesday morning. Slight inclines and stops became a bit more treacherous as slush and ice formed in troublesome spots on roadways.
Large equipment, both public and private, could be seen rushing to take care of snow across the region Tuesday morning. Plows, blowers and salt were needed to deal with the 5 inches of snow reported across the area.
