Barrie’s Massive Snow Mountain Defies Heatwave, Still Standing in July

Even after months of warmer weather and a recent stretch of intense summer heat, a huge pile of snow collected from Barrie’s streets is still slowly melting.

The snow pile, once nearly seven storeys tall at the height of winter, remains visible in the city’s works yard on Ferndale Drive. Despite temperatures recently climbing above 30 C, the pile has not fully disappeared.

Snow Pile Once Reached Nearly Seven Storeys

During the peak of winter, Barrie’s snow pile grew to an enormous height of almost seven storeys.

It was so large that drivers could see it from Highway 400.

Now, even in July, the remaining mound still stands at about 18 feet high and stretches roughly 100 feet long.

Why the Snow Is Still Around in July

Barrie’s director of operations, Dave Friary, said the snow has lasted longer this year because the city used a different method to manage it.

According to Friary, the city brought in a bulldozer to compact the snow, similar to how material is compacted at a landfill.

This made the pile much denser, which is one reason it has taken so long to melt.

Snow and Debris Melting at City Works Yard

The remaining snow, along with debris collected from city streets, continues to melt at the back of Barrie’s works yard on Ferndale Drive.

Friary said the pile is located on an asphalt pad specifically designed as the city’s snow-melting facility.

As the snow melts, the water flows away while debris remains on the pad. City crews will later clean, sweep and dispose of that leftover material.

Meltwater Drains Into Stormwater Pond

The water from the melting snow drains into a nearby stormwater management pond.

Friary explained that the pond helps filter the runoff before the water eventually reaches the lake.

This system is designed to manage the meltwater while keeping debris and contaminants from flowing directly into local waterways.

When Will the Snow Pile Finally Disappear?

City officials do not know the exact date when the snow pile will completely melt.

However, they estimate it could be gone before the August long weekend.

Until then, Barrie’s lingering snow pile remains a surprising reminder of the city’s heavy winter, even during the summer heat.

Barrie’s massive snow pile continues to shrink slowly despite recent temperatures above 30 C. The pile, which once stood nearly seven storeys high and could be seen from Highway 400, remains about 18 feet tall and 100 feet long in July. City officials say the snow has lasted longer because it was compacted with a bulldozer, making it much denser.

As the snow melts at the Ferndale Drive works yard, debris stays on the asphalt pad while water drains into a stormwater pond for filtering. Officials expect the remaining snow to disappear before the August long weekend.