© Alaska Highway News File Photo
The city said Tuesday that extreme cold temperatures below -30 degrees damages its snow clearing equipment.
The city has received 28.5 centimetres, or 11 inches, of snow since Christmas, according to Environment Canada data, most of which has crusted into sheens of ice and inches-deep ruts on main streets and residential roads across town.
The city's snow removal policy states that, at a bare minimum, snow and ice must be cleared after snowfall accumulations between 5 to 15 cm, or about two to six inches, over a 72 hour period. Since Sunday, roughly 15 centimetres, or six inches, has fallen.
The city's policy does not mention what is considered "non-essential" or non-urgent" snow clearing. There is also no mention of what constitutes its weather-related protocols.
As of Wednesday morning, temperatures in Fort St. John were reported at -34 degrees, with an extreme cold warning still in place by Environment Canada.
The city said in its statement that its "snow fighters," meaning its snow plows, are continuing to "monitor conditions, apply winter sand, and will respond to safety-sensitive issues."
