Ken Peters

Snow shovel. An implement consisting of a broad blade or scoop attached to a long handle, used for removing loose snow.

OK, most Hamiltonians haven't forgotten what a snow shovel is. Today they'll get a rare opportunity, at least for 2010, to use one.

Environment Canada says in a special weather statement snow beginning in  the Windsor area early this morning will reach Hamilton just after supper tonight. We’ll have total accumulations of 5 to 10 cm by tomorrow morning but the extreme southwestern end of the province may see 10 to 25 cm with this storm.

When it is over, some five to 10 centimetres of the white stuff will need to be cleared. Hardly worth talking about really but newsworthy just the same given the city has received just 30.4 centimetres of snow this winter. We normally receive 35 centimetres in February alone. To date we have received just 2.4 centimetres this month.

With the brunt of winter behind us, Hamiltonians have seen just one-fifth of normal seasonal snowfall.

A normal Hamilton winter sees 162 centimetres of the wintry flakes, though we still have the rest of February and March to make it through.

"You'll need a shovel," Environment Canada's Peter Kimbell said of the storm, which is expected to hit parts of Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and New Jersey the hardest before skirting into southwest Ontario and moving east.

"A steady, light snow is what we're looking at," Kimbell said.

Bill Weaver, with the city's road operations, said crews will respond once 2.5 centimetres of the white stuff hits the streets.

"All road operations and maintenance equipment are ready and available to respond to winter weather conditions as required. Roads crews will implement the usual snow clearing and de-icing procedures depending on the weather forecast and conditions beginning with Priority 1 roads such as the Linc, Red Hill Valley Parkway, escarpment accesses and arterial roads."

Kimbell said Hamiltonians will also likely see some flurries Thursday but the weekend looks fabulous, at least for this time of year. A mix of sun and cloud and -1 C is expected for both Saturday and Sunday.

"We're doing our best," Kimbell quipped.

kpeters@thespec.com