AMHERST - Amherst Public Works operators and managers are presently gearing up for a storm scheduled to hit Amherst Friday night, and expected to continue its run over Amherst all day Saturday.
"We're making sure we have enough supply materials such as salt and sand, and ensuring all our equipment is in proper working order and prepared for the storm," said Public Works manager Ben Pitman.
Paula Sutherland, media spokesperson with Environment Canada's Atlantic Storm Prediction Centre, was contacted Wednesday afternoon.
She said, "current forecast models are looking at an excess of 20 to 30 centimetres of snow in Amherst, with the snow beginning late Friday evening and continuing for most of Saturday, and then the snow will ease overnight on Saturday."
She said Saturday's snowfall will be accompanied by ‘strong' northeasterly winds with a low temperature of -15 C and a high of -7 C.
Pitman says the Public Works department is presently planning for a two-day storm.
"We're making sure we have enough fuel in our (truck) tanks and in our underground tanks," said Pitman. "We're also making sure we have enough people available in case the storm lasts into multiple shifts."
Public Works crews are also presently looking at their routes and at the cleanup after the storm.
Pitman is asking people to be careful on the roads during the storm.
"If they could limit the traffic as much as possible by staying off the roads that would be much appreciated," he added.
dmathieson@amherstdailynew.com
