Think Montreal had a tough winter? Quebec City to open more snow dumps

The worst of winter may be over, but Quebec City officials are taking precautions after a snowier-than-usual winterhas left many of the city's snow dumps near capacity.

The provincial capital is openingthree additional snow dumps in case this month brings another round of stormy weather.

The Beauport, Lac Saint-Charlesand Sainte-Foy lots have joined the list of nine other snow dump siteswhich city officials say are already almost three-quarters full.

Two sites Henri-Bourassa and Chanoine-Scott have already been closed because they've reached their capacity.

Nearly 320 centimetres of snow hasfallen on the provincial capital since the beginning of the season, far surpassing the city's average of 220 centimetres.

Coun. Jrmie Ernould, who isresponsible for snow removal, said the move is preventative, in case snowfall reaches 2008 levels.

He said that year broke a record for total snowaccumulation,with 160 centimetres of snow falling in March alone more than half of what typically falls in the course of an entire winter.

"The snow depots will be operational, and we'll have somewhere to stock the snow," said Ernould.

The city has already wiped out its snow-clearing budget this winter.

It normallyallocates about $45 million annually to remove snow, but 2019 is the second consecutive year the city's spent close to $55 million.