What weather to watch for

Snow events of any size take serious planning. But when Mother Nature drops seven feet of snow on a city, it takes things to a whole new level.

That’s why Jonah Daigle, president and CEO of Outside Unlimited, says his team had to be ready for anything in Buffalo, N.Y. this November.

“In an instance like what happened in Buffalo — it really just all comes down to the team and the services partners that work with you,” he says.

Daigle says the first step to any successful snow plan is being prepared ahead of time.

“We were fortunate. We were there before the snow even started,” he says. “Our teams got there Thursday night as it got dark and when the sun came up on Friday, and they were getting two to four inches an hour, crews were already in place getting rest, so we were able to hit the ground running.”

Seven feet of snow calls for all hands-on deck. So, Daigle says in terms of extreme events, companies with multiple branches should consolidate resources to the area being hit.

“As far as putting things together, you have to move equipment in from out of market because when you get seven feet of snow there is no extra equipment in the market. Everybody’s working,” he says. “Our out-of-town team was able to work with our local team to keep the stores open and keep people safe.”

And while seven feet of snow is an anomaly, Daigle says he does predict a busy snow season across the Northeast — where Outside Unlimited services 11 states.

“This season we’re getting a little bit of a late start,” he says. “The only place we’ve really had to plow so far this season is the Buffalo market.

“Our first snow event can really happen anywhere from Halloween to the middle of December,” Daigle adds. “So right now, up here in the Northeast, it’s not a matter of if it’s going to snow but when it’s going to snow.”

With decades of experience, Daigle says he has noticed one common weather pattern that he’s sure will ring true this year.

“Typically, when we have above average temperatures in the month of November, it tends to be a snowier winter overall,” he says.

Daigle adds he’s noticing other shifts in the weather over recent seasons.

“One of the other things we’re seeing in the Northeast is we’re getting a lot more ice events,” he says. “But I would much rather plow a foot of snow then deal with a quarter inch of ice. I can make the snow go away. Ice is a whole other beast.”

Daigle says the main problem with ice removal is the increased material costs.

“Ice costs more money to manage,” he says. “Salt prices are high because the diesel prices are high. It can be up 15- to 20% depending on how close you are to a hub.”