Tahoe storms keep snow removal crews busy (with video)

How deep is the snow on Mt. Rose (video)

Click to Enlarge Victor Moreno of Empire Snow Removal clears a driveway on Bronco Court Tuesday. Many independent snow removal contractors are experiencing increased demand for their services after recent storms. Bonanza Photo - Jen Schmidt Browse and Buy Tahoe Bonanza Photos

By Annie Flanzraich
Bonanza News Editor, aflanz@tahoebonanza.com
February 5, 2008

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When Incline Village-based Empire Snow Removal crews began their work at midnight Saturday to clear the 10 to 15 inches of snow that dumped earlier that night, they had one thought in mind.

“They were out all night and they were exhausted,” said owner Jeff Whitt. “All they wanted to do was get to the Super Bowl. Luckily, they were done in time.”

Empire Snow Removal crews, which handle the parking lots of Raley’s and the Incline Village Community Hospital, weren’t the only people pushing away snow into the early hours.

Tahoe Workz owner Jeff Ledson said he had barely seen his bedroom between Saturday night and Monday night.

“I don’t really sleep,” Ledson said. “You try to go in the middle of the night because of the amount of time it takes waiting for people to let you go can add hours.”

Both companies were inundated with phone calls from people who do not have regular snow removal contracts, but couldn’t get out of their house. AAA Snowbusters was also busy with last minute calls.

“Business is better than it’s been in longer than I can remember,” said owner Jack Vallerio. “It’s an old-fashioned Tahoe winter.”

Saturday’s storm which dropped 10 to 15 inches of snow at lake level and up to two feet at higher elevations was the tail end of a larger system, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Brian Brong.
“Each storm added on top of the next one,” Brong said. “Usually after each storm you get a little wind, and the layer of snow that can blow around is blown off. This storm made it seem like it was a continuous blowing storm.”

While this storm did not add as much snow as the early January system that left five to seven feet of snow at higher elevations, Brong said it caught many by surprise.
“Initially we didn’t think it was going to be as much because of some of the model output we were seeing,” Brong said. “But as the storm got closer we could see a couple of feet developing in the mountains.”

The storm also caught some property owners by surprise.

“They (homeowners) are frantic because there are other people who have told them they can’t remove the snow,” Whitt said. “And of course they’re looking for the best price.”

Ledson said he worked with a homeowner who had waited for their snow removal service for two days before calling.

“They had a plane to catch in two hours,” Ledson said.

The next week should hold clearer skies, Brong said. Smaller storms might drop some snow on the north end of the lake Thursday and Sunday, but otherwise the forecast calls for clear skies.

“There’s nothing major on the horizon,” Brong said.

That’s good news for Ledson, at least for now.

“I’d like sun for two weeks and then a three-day heavy storm,” he said. “Keep it coming.”