ST. JOHN’S, CANADA – Paul Mackey, director of public works for the City of St. John’s, said its fleet of snowclearing equipment has been able to handle the stress caused by the early winter storms, according to The Telegram.

According to Environment Canada, 134.6 cm of snow fell in St. John’s last month, making it the third-snowiest December since record keeping began at the St. John’s airport in 1942. The average snowfall for December in the capital city is about 61 cm.

Mackey said the St. John’s fleet — more than 100 pieces of equipment including truck plows, loaders, graders, and sidewalk plows — hasn’t been wearing out or breaking down any more than in a normal winter.

The only difference between this year and most others is in the amount of fuel they’re using, which has increased dramatically. Most of the snowclearing equipment uses diesel.

St. John’s has a snowclearing budget of $12.5 million, Mackey said, and it spends close to $5 million a year on fuel and snowclearing fleet repairs, and on renting trucks for hauling snow, in some cases, according to The Telegram.

City equipment burned $155,753 worth of diesel in December — a significant jump from the $72,326 spent on diesel the year before.