Traverse City Record-Eagle

Archive: Friday

February 26, 2009

Harsh winter a bonanza for some

Snow removers eagerly anticipate latest winter storm

By SHERI McWHIRTER

TRAVERSE CITY -- Mike Siler worked twice as hard this winter than he did last year. And that's a happy fact.

Siler owns a snowblowing business in Traverse City, and expected to be on the job by 3 a.m. today to attack the aftermath of an anticipated fast-moving snowstorm.

"At 8 in the morning the phone will be ringing off the hook because people think their driveway is the most important," Siler said.

This winter has been a bonanza for those in the snow removal industry, he said.

"It's candy to me. It's been phenomenal. It's been a very good winter for anybody in the business. I know I've doubled what I did last year with the same business," Siler said.

Snowfall has been abundant enough that one of Siler's condominium clients changed its contract and increased the minimum amount of snow accumulation from one inch to three inches before he clears the parking lot. It's a matter of money for many of Siler's clients, he said.

Weather forecasters called for up to two inches per hour to fall across the region overnight in a snowstorm complete with rumbling thunder. Sloppy snow could lead to icy conditions by this morning, when much colder conditions are expected, said officials at the National Weather Service station in Gaylord.

"It will be a pretty quick storm," said NWS meteorologist Jeff Lutz. "It will be doing its main damage by 1, 2 or 3 (a.m.). The snow we're expecting will be real wet and heavy."

Cold air will blow into the region behind the storm, dropping the temperature from 30 to 20 degrees in a few hours. That means wet snow likely was to freeze by morning, Lutz said.

"Probably about seven inches of snow will have fallen overnight in the Traverse City area," he said.

Wet and frozen snow likely won't blow around much this morning, despite winds anticipated to reach 20 mph.

This winter's persistent snowfall turned into profits at McLean's Hardware in Kalkaska.

"It's been a great year for shovels, snow scoops, roof rakes and ice melters," said Jodie McLean-Disbrow, store manager. "Last year, we sold six roof rakes, and this year over 60."

McLean's customers were prepared for Thursday night's heavy snowfall, and snapped up ice melt products throughout the day, McLean-Disbrow said.

"Everybody is tired of it. We're ready for spring. We've even got spring seeds in," she said.

Road workers in Grand Traverse County are prepared for this month's last wintery blast.

"We'll know when it starts snowing and as it gets more severe, we can call out more plow drivers," said Mary Gillis, road commission manager. "If we get that much before 3 a.m., we will have people in to clear the roads before people start their drives in the morning."

State highways should be cleared for motorists by today's morning commute times, but side roads will take a little longer, Gillis said.

"People will encounter slippery conditions on the side roads. We try to get out there on the roads with hills and curves," she said.

Antrim County Sheriff Dan Bean wants area residents to just stay home, if they can.

"If they don't have to go to work, they shouldn't be on the roads. If they have to travel, they have to go slow and take their time getting where they're going," Bean said.

Deputies will be on the road this morning, keeping watch for accidents or stranded motorists, Bean said, although those tend to decrease as winter plods along.

"Once winter settles in, people have learned how to drive on these roads," he said.

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