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Average Chicago winter?
Snow removal companies are gearing up for another busy weekend. One owner says this is just an average Chicago winter. Bret Buganski looked at the numbers on snow and salt.
CHICAGO - Snow removal companies are gearing up for another busy weekend with a winter storm warning in effect for the city of Chicago.
What we know:
On Friday afternoon, crews with Snow Systems, a snow removal company from Wheeling were shoveling, plowing and scraping ice from sidewalks and the parking lot outside of Jewel-Osco in the West Loop.
"We got to make sure the patrons don't slip and fall, our motto is clearing the path to follow," said Bob Slowikowski, manager at Snow Systems.
He's been working for them since 1990 and told Fox Chicago, this winter season, crews have been averaging between 15-20 sites a day. They're expecting this weekend to be another busy one, with a storm warning in effect for Chicago.
"It's going to be touch and go through here through the evening and then it will give us a little break," said Slowikowski.
This season has proven to not give them many breaks, especially after last weekend's winter storm, with temperatures well below zero.
"When it gets super dangerous is when you get your wind chills down below 20, you know negative 20," added Slowikowski, talking about when the weather impacts the safety of the crews.
Fox Chicago asked him to describe this winter. Slowikowski said, "good average winter."
By the numbers:
We checked the National Weather Service almanac which said, as of January 30th, Chicago O'Hare measured more than 28 inches of snow. The average snowfall at this point in the season is 20.5 inches. The temperatures, at this point in the season, are also trending below average.
Slowikowski described the last two winters "on the thin side" as far as the snow removal business is concerned. However this season, the industry nationwide is facing a salt shortage.
"We have to be careful about how much salt we put down we have to use the quantities, we have it does impact us a little bit but we do have supplies on hand," said Slowikowski.
What's next:
As we close January with more snow and below average temperatures, Slowikowski is urging you to always stay aware when you're walking on covered sidewalks.
The Source: This story contains reporting from Fox Chicago's Bret Buganski.