Go Figure: We dig into the costs that come with winter

On average, January 2 is the coldest day of the year in Vancouver, with a low of 2°C and a high of 6°C. Historically, the daily probability of snowfall peaks over the first 10 days of January.

Annual municipal snow removal budget:

• Prince George: $10.3 million
• Vancouver: $7.4 million
• Surrey: $4.46 million
• Victoria: $430,000
• Montreal: $197 million

On average, Canadian consumers pay $81 per visit for private snow removal services.

All-season tires begin to lose their elasticity and grip on the road below 7°C.

• 73 percent of B.C. drivers surveyed last year said they would be using winter tires in 2023-24. That’s up from 57 percent in 2021, when the B.C. government made winter tires mandatory on most highways.
• Across Canada, the average is 76 percent.

To meet the requirements for winter tire designation, an M + S or mountain/snowflake tire must have 3.5 mm of tread depth.

Snowfall causes motor vehicle accidents to spike. When snow hit the South Coast on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, there were 3,567 claims to ICBC, 94 percent more than the same day a week prior.

Most B.C. municipalities require homeowners to clear sidewalks of snow by 10 a.m. after an overnight snowfall.

Sources: Tire and Rubber Association of Canada, municipal websites, ICBC, BC Hydro, Transport Canada, HomeGuide, Environment Canada