Kamloops staff say snow removal costs will likely exceed the budgeted amount if we have several more heavy snowfalls in next two months.

The average cost for removing snow after a significant snowfall in Kamloops is more than $50,000, and there have now been two significant snow events in the past four days – a rare occurrence for October in Kamloops.

Speaking on the NL Noon Report, streets manager Glen Farrow says the city has budgeted $1.9 million for snow clearing and it has not yet surpassed that.

“We had January, February and even some struggles in March that are on that 2020 budget. And now to be spending that budget as early as we are into October, I suspect there may be some challenges if this weather continues through November and December.”

The city’s budget for snow clearing goes from January to December, and Farrow reiterates the city will spend whatever is needed on removing snow in the calendar year.

“Really the focus is about the service levels. Addressing those roads when the events occur. And it’s not about the budget; we’re more driven by the service level than we are about the budget.”

Last Friday, 10.6 centimetres of snow fell at the Kamloops Airport, which made it the second-snowiest day on record in the city. And yesterday, 2.6 cm of snow fell, which was good enough for the eighth-snowiest October day ever in Kamloops.