Endless winter blasts through almost all of Calgary's snow removal budget for 2018

The city is quickly plowing through its snow removal budget for 2018 as Calgary continues to suffer through The Winter. That. Never. Ends.

Prior to Monday's storm that blanketed Calgary yet again, the city had already spent $32 million of this year's allotment of $38.8 million, according to Calgary Roads spokesman Chris McGeachy.

Although this snow season is (hopefully) nearly over, the budget has to coverany snowfall removal through to the end of 2018.

• Siksika Nation in 'crisis stage' as flooding threatens several southern Alberta communities
• Calgary has run out of room to store all that snow

"This year's been a challenging year, just because we haven't had the chinooks, the melt," McGeachy said.

"The snow has stuck around a lot longer so it's been challenging for us. Right now we're still operating within our budget and we hope it's a warm, dry rest of the year."

The snow and ice removal budget covers Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.

Above average snowfall

The data from Environment Canada confirms it has been a brutal winter in Calgary.

WithApril just over halfway done,Calgary has had24.6 centimetresof snow. The 30-year average for April is 18.8 cm.

March had almost twice the normal snowfall 41.9 cm compared with the 22.7-centimetrecm.

February was even more out of whack. Calgary got 43.3 cm of snow, while 14.5 cm would have been normal.

January's total this year of11 cm was closer to the average 15.3 cm for that month.

McGeachysays there is a $12.5-million reserve fund the city can dip into if necessary.

That will be discussed once Calgary is well past the spring snow period if that ever happens.

• MORE CALGARY NEWS|Accused gang leader Nick Chan goes free on murder charge, again
• MORE CALGARY NEWS|Notley's Bill 12 'shows bold leadership,' say Alberta oil and gas producers