Snow pile reportedly about 18 feet high still
Even with multiple days of temperatures near and in the 30s in Barrie, the snow pile is maintaining a height of roughly 18 feet and a width of 100 feet, reported by CTV News on July 3.
Snow pile at additional storage site on McKay Road in Barrie, Ont., on Feb. 20, 2026. (City of Barrie)
According to the report, the height of the snow pile reached nearly seven storeys and was visible from Highway 400.
How does the snow survive the heat?
Dave Friary, Barrie’s director of operations, told CTV News that the city handled the snow pile differently this winter, helping to extend the duration of the snow to July so far.
“We actually brought in a bulldozer to compact it similar to what we do at the landfill,” said Friary, in an interview with CTV News. “So, make everything a lot more dense, so that’s one of the reasons why it’s hanging around so long.”
It’s worth mentioning that it has been more than 60 days since Barrie saw temperatures fall below the freezing mark, and yet, the snow pile is considerably high still.
