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. Sartell Public Works Director Brad Borders said the city used the following equipment for initial street plowing: five large plow/salt trucks, one loader for plowing parking lots, with an additional plow and loader if needed.
Even though the snow was wet, Borders said city staff did well, working for just over eight hours. He did note one of the plow trucks did get a flat tire, but very little time was lost.
Borders said since they have been plowing roundabouts for a few years, the new ones did not present any extra obstacles.
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.
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 approximately 6 inches of snow reported across the area by Wednesday.
School buses still needed to get through traffic Tuesday morning. St. Cloud area schools were on time, but Melrose and Upsala schools were delayed two hours due to the snow.
Vehicles navigate the roundabout on Pinecone Road at Second St. S. the morning of Dec. 1. Snowfall Monday afternoon through early Tuesday caused a headache for drivers on their Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes.
