“Last winter, when I left from campus, it was really storming. The streets were sliding.”
— Bashaer al Aqbi, Syracuse University student
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The city of Syracuse woke up Thursday to its first real taste of winter, as a thick layer of snow coated the streets, cars and sidewalks across the city.
For residents, it was the official sign that another Syracuse winter had arrived.
Syracuse University student Bashaer al Aqbi recalled her experience driving during a snowstorm last semester.
“Last winter, when I left from campus, it was really storming,” Al Aqbi said. “The streets were sliding.”
Like many in the city, she hoped the plows stayed caught up.
Others felt the effects of the snow in their daily commutes.
“The bus took forever,” said Emilie Gaucin, a campus minister at SU. “The times weren’t matching up in the app, and we were like, what’s going on?”
According to the City of Syracuse’s Department of Public Works, crews use roughly 30,000 tons of rock salt each winter to keep roads clear and lower the likelihood of accidents as a result of the weather. The department also reminded residents that property owners are required to shovel their sidewalks by 6 p.m. the day it snows to protect pedestrians.
Though the city takes massive precautions, the work was far from over. Syracuse is known as one of the snowiest cities in the country. According to the National Weather Service, Syracuse averages more than 120 inches of snow each year, about 10 feet.
Despite the delays and slippery roads, longtime residents knew this was just the beginning.
As crews continued clearing and salting, most Syracuse residents settled into what was sure to be another long, snowy season.
AUDIO TRANSCRIPT: First snow
Nyah: The city of Syracuse is waking up this morning after the first significant snowfall of the season – a marker, once again, that winter is here. It is clear the city has a lot of work to do to prepare for more snow.
Bashaer al Aqbi: Last semester, or like, last winter, when I left from campus, it was really storming, the streets were sliding.
Nyah: That was student Bashaer al Aqbi expressing her slight dissatisfaction with the way the streets in Syracuse are cleaned. Already, public transportation has experienced delays. Campus minister Emilie Gaucin had more to add regarding transportation.
Emilie Gaucin: The bus took forever, and so I don’t know if that had something to do with the weather, but the times weren’t matching up in the app, and we were like what’s going on, you know?
Nyah: According to the city website, crews use about 30,000 tons of salt each winter. The city also requires city-property owners to shovel their sidewalks by 6 p.m. the day of snowfall. Despite the challenges that come with the first snowfall, Syracuse residents know this routine well. As crews continue clearing roads and sidewalks, this storm is just the beginning of another long central New York winter. Nyah Mathis, NCC News.