January Thaw Provides A Respite In A Snowy Winter

By Steve Bigham

This week’s late-January thaw has gone a long way toward melting the unusually large amount of snow that has fallen on the Northeast this winter. To date, this area has gotten hit with 28.1 inches of snow since the first snow flew back on December 8. That’s more than we had all of last year and we still have another two months to go.

But as Gary Lessor of the Western Connecticut State University weather center points out, this is pretty much a normal winter. Aside from the two big storms, there really has not been that much snow.

“It’s worse when you have snowstorm-after-snowstorm with a smaller amount. These bigger and less-frequent storms are easier to deal with,” he said.

Last weekend’s storm ranked as the second biggest of this winter season as about 6-8 inches fell. The Granddaddy of them all so far occurred back on December 30 when 14 inches fell on the area.

This year’s big snowfall affects all of us in one way or another. But there are others whose lives are particularly affected by the weather. They are depended upon to serve the masses when the weather gets bad.

Topping the list of those affected are the men and women of the Newtown highway department, who have logged plenty of overtime hours these past few months, particularly on Saturdays and holidays. According to the department, the workers have logged 3,220 hours of overtime due to snow, ice, rain, and sleet. That works out to about $95,000, according to Marion Mead, highway department administrator.

The latest count shows that the highway department has used 8,858 tons of sand on the roadways and another 1,868 tons of salt.

But while the highway department handles the roadways, the town’s small army of private snowplowing contractors is relied upon to clear the thousands of private driveways and parking lots around town. Homeowners count on them to battle the elements and the wear-and-tear on their trucks so that we can get our cars out. And this group has been plenty busy this winter and every snow-covered driveway is worth $35 or more.

But most snow plowers are quick to point out that it’s no picnic. They say the hidden costs sometimes make them wonder if it’s worth while. Trucks break down regularly and gas is expensive, so the expenses can sometimes equal the revenue.

What’s more, a big snowstorm can create the added stress of having to be at 10 different places at the same time. Unlike highway departments, private plowers do not go out right away. They have to wait until enough snow has accumulated to justify plowing a driveway. The best drivers wait until at least six inches of snow is on the ground before heading out.

And maybe the toughest part about having a snow plow business is the uncertainty that each winter brings. No one knows for sure how much snow we’re ever going to get.

“Sometimes you have to put the business away for a couple of years,” noted plower Rich Lapati of Dirt Cheap Deliveries.

As for the rest of the winter, the meteorologists at the Western Connecticut State University weather center are predicting more of the same, although they are predicting temperatures to rise during the month of February.