Jim Casella has been a private snowplow driver for more than 20 years and relies on nature s flakes to help make a winter living.
An ideal winter for Casella, 38, owner of Erie-based Liberty Snow Service, 1527 Liberty St., is one in which the Erie region is blanketed by 3 inches of powdery stuff most days.
As for this winter? It s been so-so, Casella said. It s been OK. We ll make do.
With the exception of two significant lake-effect snowstorms, the Erie region has encountered a relatively mild winter season.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, are calling for La Nina weather patterns to continue to impact Erie region weather for the remainder of winter.