Winnipeg shovels out from snowiest February in 32 years

Your aching back and the head-high piles of snow it has helped shovel have likely already told you that this winter has dumped a lot on Winnipeg.

In fact, this is alreadythe snowiest February in the city in 32 years and the month isonly halfway done.

In just two weeks, 29.4 centimetres of snow has come down, said RobPaola, a retired Environment Canada meteorologist who lives in theCharleswoodarea and measures snowfall amounts.

Typically,February is the driest month in Winnipeg, with an average of 12.5 cm of snow. Last year, the city recorded just 6.6 cm.

The snowiest February saw42.2 cmin 1987.

It's unlikely Winnipeg will reach that mark this month, however.There's little snowfall in the forecast forat least the next five days, CBC meteorologist JohnSaudersaid.

There could be someflurries on Sunday and holiday Monday but onlyenough dusting for a centimeter, he said.

Overall, Winnipeg has been hit with96.8 cm of snow this winter season, which has prompted grumbles and a lot of anecdotal stories about it being the most snow the city has seen in decades. Not so, Sauder said.

"Maybe it seems like this is the most snow we've had in years because we have had to shovel a lot in February, but it's only a little above average so far," he said.

"I think it looks like a lot because none of it has melted. Two years ago, we had a lot more snow overall, but there were a couple of epic melts during the season.

"Sothe perception of that winter may be different than the reality."

The average snowfall totalfor a Winnipeg winter is 113 cm. This year is farfrom even getting a sniff atthe most snow in the past 10 years.

• 2008-09126.4 cm.
• 2009-1080 cm.
• 2010-11149.8 cm.
• 2011-1280.8 cm.
• 2012-13176.6 cm.
• 2013-14159.6 cm.
• 2014-1582.1 cm.
• 2015-16123.2 cm.
• 2016-17131.4 cm.
• 2017-18 84.2 cm.
• 2018-1996.8cm (so far).

That said, the snowiest month is March. That's still to come.