A fleet of plows and snow equipment are on hand as the City of Sarnia braces for the first major snowfall of the season.
A snow squall watch is posted for Sarnia-Lambton advising of up to 30 centimetres of snow by Saturday afternoon.
General Manager of Engineering and Operations David Jackson said winter maintenance services are provided on five sidewalk routes and 11 road plow routes.
"Overall, we have 13 plows. During big storms, we put all of our equipment out," Jackson said. "We have four backhoes that will get involved and one tractor, and we do have contractors on call for backup if it's a really large event."
The city also started preparing for the winter season by laying down anti-ice spray on high-risk areas, such as bridges and overpasses.
Jackson said the area has been lucky over the past few winter seasons, spared from harsh snow-covered months.
As a result, the city may be looking at a surplus of approximately $100,000 to $200,000 in the winter maintenance budget by the end of 2024.
"Of course, we're subject to the whim of the weather and so there's a minor risk there but if we're seeing the kind of trend we've had the last few years, we've decided to keep the budget the same as it was last year," he said.
One thing residents can do to assist snow clearing efforts is to avoid parking on roadways.
"Throughout the winter, when there is a big snow event, even if it's during the daytime, it's nice if cars are not on the road. It makes it so much easier for the operator to clear the street properly," Jackson said. "So we definitely encourage people when there is a big snow event, if they can keep their vehicles off of the road, that's much appreciated."
The city's overnight parking ban came into effect on December 1 and will remain in place until March 31, 2025.
Meanwhile, about 70 watermain breaks were reported across the city this year, as of late November. Jackson said the amount is "fairly typical" compared to the past few years.