Lack of snow could save Winnipeg up to $700K in snow clearing costs

The mild weather and lack of snow in Winnipeg could save the city up to $700,000 on snow clearing costs by the end of this year, provided there's no major snowfall between now and Dec. 31.

Snow plows have been sitting idle lately with the weather the way it's been so far this season, meaning the city is saving money and could end up ahead of its $28-million annual snow clearing budget.

Coun. Marty Morantz, who chairs council's finance committee, said it's a much better situation than in 2014, when the city ended up $20 million in the hole.

"In 2014, the city went over budget because there was so much snow that year — by over $20 million in its snow clearing budget. This year, it is a good news story that we are slightly under budget," he said Monday.

"I'm quite relieved we didn't have … the extra burden of having to pay millions of dollars for snow clearing over the year, because it would have made our situation even more difficult."

Morantz said the money being saved will be plowed into the 2016 snow clearing budget, which would begin with a surplus.

For now, city crews are using the mild weather to fix some potholes and apply sand on ice-covered spots.

Approximately 14 centimetres of snow have fallen in Winnipeg so far this season, according to CBC meteorologist John Sauder, who estimated that normally, about 32 centimetres would have fallen up to this point.

Sauder said there will be a few opportunities to see some snow later this week.