STERLING - Snow angels, snowmen and snow plows were in plain view as winter announced its arrival by dumping 5.5 inches of lake-effect snow on northern Cayuga County on Monday morning.

Paul Kelley, the Sterling highway superintendent, said he had three trucks out from 3 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. yesterday, clearing snow off of nearly 80 miles of roadway.

“The snow was coming down right behind the trucks, so some roads we had to plow three or four times,” Paul Kelley said. “It started with a little slush in the northern end of the county and then it accumulated.”

Tree branches could be seen bowing under the weight of the large, sticky flakes that had accumulated throughout the morning, while some Fair Haven street signs were tough to read after gusting winds blanketed them in snow.

Sterling Town Supervisor Joan Kelley said that while there was not enough snow to close the schools, it was enough to warrant caution while driving.

“People who are from this area will know they need to drive a little bit slower, but the roads were not that bad,” Joan Kelley said. “Driving slower and using the right tires will go a long way with this weather. Hopefully everyone is ready for it because winter is officially here.”

Emergency crews did respond to a few weather-related accidents yesterday, with Cayuga County Sheriff's deputies helping a couple of drivers who had gone off the road in the Brutus area, deputies said.

With scattered snow showers slowly creeping south on Monday, officials from the National Weather Service said residents could expect 1 to 3 inches of accumulation by Tuesday morning and additional 1 to 2 inches throughout the day. Residents should also be prepared to see snow for the remainder of the week.

A weather advisory issued by the NWS also cautioned residents to be aware of white-out conditions on Tuesday.

By 3:30 p.m., stray flakes drifting in Auburn had grown into a steady and accumulating snow fall that lightly dusted cars and buildings throughout the city.

With more snow pending overnight, Paul Kelley said his trucks would be ready on Tuesday morning to try and keep the roads clear for commuters. Crews would also be keeping an eye out for residents' mailboxes in an attempt to minimize any damage.

“In the winter, plowing is what we do, we kind of look forward to it,” Paul said. “We can't do much else in the winter, and we have spent the past week preparing for (the snow). The only hassle is going to be mailboxes. I already got two people calling in with complaints. We don't try to hit mailboxes. In fact we try to avoid them, but when this wet, heavy snow comes off the plow, it has some momentum behind it, and it will easily take out a mailbox.”

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net

DOT not cutting services

The state Department of Transportation will cut costs but not services this winter when crews begin clearing snow and ice from the regions roadways, officials said.

With a tight budget and more than 35,000 miles of roads that will need plowing, the DOT will be enforcing its no idling policy to conserve fuel and reduce carbon emissions when trucks are not being used, officials said.

Additional savings will also be made with crews paying more attention to their salt application rates to ensure plows are applying the correct amount as needed, officials said. To ensure a uniform application of salt and other materials, crews will be calibrating their current equipment as they prepare to clear the roads.

Officials also encouraged motorists to slow down on snowy or icy roads. Drivers interested in checking real-time winter road conditions can visit www.travelinfony.com.