Unusually heavy snowfall over the weekend kept Aurora’s streets division working around the clock to keep roads clear.
Saturday’s winter storm dumped six to nearly nine inches of snow on the Aurora area, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Doom. That amount of snowfall often happens every or every-other winter season, but not usually this early in the season, he said.
The snow came from a “really strong, quickly-evolving storm system” that came through the Midwest, right through “the heart of Chicagoland,” Doom told The Beacon-News. The storm system was “loaded with moisture,” he said, and was on the right track to dump all this snow over the area.
“We were sort of ground zero for the highest snow, here and southern Wisconsin,” Doom said.
The snowfall broke records in Chicago as the 8.4 inches recorded to have fallen at O’Hare International Airport on Saturday is the largest amount ever on a single calendar day in the city in November.
And the storm dumped the most snow Aurora has seen fall over such a short period of time in six or seven years, city Superintendent of Streets Adrian Perez said.
“Historically, it’s been pretty light,” he said. “We really haven’t seen this much snowfall in quite some time.”
Considering the city’s streets division is relatively “green,” with a lot of turnover and veterans retiring, staff did a “fantastic job” clearing the city’s roads over the weekend, according to Perez. Although it might have taken a little bit longer than expected, he said, the division hit its goal of getting done on Sunday.
Streets division staff worked mandatory 12-hour shifts over the weekend, with work starting at 3 a.m. on Saturday and finishing at around 5 p.m. on Sunday, Perez said. Other city divisions within the Public Works Department also helped out, he said.
“Every person that we had available was running routes,” Perez said.
Throughout the snowfall, staff worked to make sure primary roads stayed as clear as possible, especially heading into Sunday morning, according to Perez. And even before the snow started to fall, he said, workers were out salting those primary roadways to prepare.
Another snow-removal service offered by the city of Aurora, which shovels the walkways and driveways of seniors and those with disabilities, also sprung into action because of the winter storm over the weekend. Aurora Senior and Disability Services Manager Katrina Boatright said 230 homes were serviced by 50 “Snow Angel” volunteers and two contractors through the “Operation Senior Shovel” program.
The storm didn’t impact the Fox Valley Park District’s programming, and its facilities are operating under regular hours, per a district spokesperson. Preparation for the snowstorm started as early as Wednesday, with efforts focused around its four community centers — the Vaughan Athletic Center, Prisco and Eola community centers, and the Copley Boxing and Training Center — plus the Cole Center Administrative Office.
“Our top priority is always the safety of our residents,” Melissa Harrison, assistant director of park operations, said in a statement. “When winter weather approaches, our crews move quickly to treat surfaces and clear our community centers first, ensuring the places people rely on most remain safe, accessible and ready to serve.”
The park district’s snow removal crews worked staggered shifts from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, a district spokesperson said. Monday was spent clearing other sites and preparing for more forecasted snow.
It was also snowing on Monday afternoon, which the National Weather Service forecasted would be about one to three inches in total. Some snow showers are also forecast for Wednesday, which will come along a cold front, according to a post on the National Weather Service Chicago’s Facebook page.
Doom told the Chicago Tribune that the area might see a bit more snow this winter than in recent years, but that a single snow like the one Saturday does not necessarily mean more snow this season. Last year, the Chicago area saw just 17.6 inches of snow, less than the typically-expected 38.4 inches, the Tribune has reported.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com
