Village of Keremeos outside staff are working feverishly this afternoon to try and clear village streets before a forecast change in the weather.
Area roads are expected to turn into skating rinks overnight as temperatures are predicted to begin dipping. An arctic front is on the way, which could last until the weekend. It could bring temperatures as low as minus seven by Saturday.
Keremeos streets, which were in excellent shape earlier in the week, were hit by heavy snowfall Tuesday. That weather event was followed by rising temperatures and rain through the night. By Wednesday afternoon, Keremeos residential streets were a quagmire of ice, compact snow, water saturated snow, slush and pooling water.
Village maintenance staff were out in full force, but struggled to move the weighty mess, even with plow blades. The material on some streets is so saturated it defies collection. Even after snowplowing an icy layer remains on some streets.
Maintenance worker Matt Lougheed was chopping away at stubborn ice surrounding storm drains in an effort to move pooling water in village intersections early Wednesday afternoon.
“I’ve heard a few complaints,” Lougheed said, “but we are doing the best we can, given the weather.”