Snow removal slowed down on Monday after the east wind picked up overnight in Chilliwack, causing large snowdrifts.
Crews and equipment have been going around the clock since Friday when predictions were for a "significant" amount of snow to fall.
The 2017 snow removal budget is just over a million dollars, and it's costing about $85,000 a day right now in materials, snow removal equipment and labour, estimated city reps.
Crews were directed to start clearing the residential streets Sunday, but it's been slow going given the incredible volume of snow that hit the ground, said City of Chilliwack Operations staff.
The intensity and actual volume of the snow took everyone by surprise, since no meteorologists had predicted that Chilliwack would see as much as it did. More than 80 cm of snow fell over the weekend.
There have been snow drifting issues on the north-south corridors like Annis, Prest, Evans and Lickman Roads, as some of the equipment operators had to leave residential street duty to get on the snow drifts.
The biggest challenge has been where to put the massive truckloads of snow. Typically the only places to offload are in the downtown core, like at the end of Wellington Avenue or Townsend Park.
But everywhere else it has meant the plows just push the white stuff to the sides. So snow piles are growing, and windrows left by the plows are generating a few complaints, even as residents are wanting to see the plows make it onto their streets, but then get upset when they get blocked again.
It cost the city about $1.4 million for snow and ice removal last year, and the bulk of it was spent in December.
"Although crews and equipment are working around the clock to remove snow, the roads are currently hazardous for driving," according to city officials on Sunday. "Crews will be getting to the residential areas throughout the day and overnight. If you do not need to go out, please stay home."
The Parr Road Green Depot was closed on Monday because of road conditions, as was the Bailey Landfill.
Calls were for more snow coming this week.