Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - February typically means more snow – measuring in feet, dangerous driving conditions, and school closings.
But, as unbelievable as it seems, you can add another 50-degree day to the unusual winter so far.
As of Feb. 6, Central New York was short four feet its normal total.
Those who are re-considering plowing contracts, however, should be aware. It’s likely plows will be put into operation before season’s end.
“If every year you try to decide what kind of winter we’re going to have and try to make your decision on that, you’re really just taking a gamble,” said Pro Scapes owner, Rick Kier.
Kier says, whether you prefer to contract with plows on a seasonal basis or per job, you should stick with it.
He noted we’ve had back-to-back winters of extremes, but over the long haul, they balance out.
So far, this year, we’ve only had four days with at least three inches of snow. Three inches is the normal bench mark used for plow drivers when determining whether or not to plow a driveway. Last year, it was 21 days of three inches or more. The average over the past decade has been 14 days of three-plus inches of snowfall. Businesses like Pro Scapes base their seasonal contracts on average snowfall for a usual winter.
“We try to balance that out so in a light winter or a heavy winter we’re not making a huge profit or incurring a huge loss,” Kier said. “So we kind of balance it out internally by the type of work we take on and how much of each type of work.”
Still, the 2011-12 winter has been so free of snow and ice that Pro Scapes has had to lay off much of its workforce, but ready to call the workers back at a moment’s notice should the weather make a turn for the worse.
