Local Companies Waiting for More Snow

For both recreation and industry, slow start to winter season

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By Lauren Maxwell
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Story Created: Nov 20, 2012 at 5:19 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2012 at 7:57 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - It’s a question many people are asking around town: “Where’s the snow?” It may seem hard to believe that a year ago Anchorage had more than two feet on the ground, while today we have less than three inches. For many residents it’s a vivid memory of shoveling out.

“Last year we had so much snow that I don’t miss the shoveling aspect of it,” says Amanda Mayo.

Mayo was shopping for a new pair of skis at REI. Workers there say it’s been a slow start to their annual winter gear sale, but sales associate David Predeger says customers aren’t complaining.

“What good is it going to do to complain?” says Predeger, “I haven’t heard many complaints about lack of snow and it’s coming.”

But for some it can’t come soon enough. At Alaska Snow Removal, the largest plowing company in the state, some workers are keeping busy doing anything but removing snow. But manager Tabb Thom says many more are out of work until it falls.

“Yeah, there are several hundred people who are on standby who we will use on a snow event. We keep in close contact with them, but there’s no snow.”

No snow could also be trouble for homeowners who are subject to frozen pipes. Local plumbing companies say it’s still too warm for most pipes to freeze, but if temperatures continue to drop without an insulating snowfall, that could happen too. December and January are the months when frozen pipes are most common.
 

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