Fort Erie residents embrace winter weather following snow squall

Residents in Fort Erie are cleaning up after heavy snowfall, followed by a drop in temperature.

The town issued a snow squall warning earlier this week, but now the area is transitioning into a milder weather pattern with warmer conditions expected.

Local resident Giovanni Denardi was out shoveling his driveway to keep up with the snow from last night, but he says it hasn’t been too bad.

“We’re pretty used to it but like I said I grew up in the area and we’ve always done things with hand so shoveling comes easy, and it’s a nice way to get out, enjoy the sun and warm up,” Denardi said.

READ MORE: Fort Erie residents hunker down as snow squall warning stays in effect

Although it’s freezing in Fort Erie, people were out owning winter like it’s a fun challenge.

“Well it hasn’t stopped snowing in…for about 7 days, so we thought we would get out and enjoy. It’s winter in Fort Erie, man,” resident Chris Chevalier said.

For others, visiting the Sugar Bowl Park to sled is a tradition.

“We come here every year. This is our third year coming here, we love it,” Johanna Brezinski said.

“It’s been very very chilly, but it’s been very good, like if you’re dressed properly there’s no problem.”

READ MORE: Drivers warned to travel safely amid wet winter weather

And over in Buffalo, the Bills N.F.L. organization asked for volunteers to help shovel Highmark Stadium ahead of their game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

“I think it’s great. I think that’s a great way to involve the community and they love that team, so they’re more than happy to just be around each other, have a couple laughs… just being in the stadium. They really love that team,” Denardi said.

Environment Canada Climatologist David Phillips calls this the dead of winter — where more winter is behind us than ahead of us.

He says we have seen far worse winters in recent years and this is the mildest and least amount of snow.

“In terms of the snowfall… you’ve had only about 19-20 cm of snow in Hamilton and a little bit more in parts of Niagara Region because of the lake effect, but normally you would have about 70 cm by this time,” Phillips said.