Here’s how weather creates potholes
It’s that time of year when more and more potholes start appearing on our roads.
I’ve noticed an increase in my commute and encountered moon-like craters exploring northern Nova Scotia recently.
Let’s look at how potholes form and the weather that helps create them.
Cracks will inevitably form in asphalt due to traffic, seasonal weather patterns and shifts in the Earth’s surface. Unless filled, there’s a chance a pothole will form.
Water from precipitation and runoff seeps into these cracks, which softens the road base above the soil. Sub-zero temperatures then allow this water to freeze.
The frozen water expands and puts added pressure on the asphalt, causing it to become raised. Once temperatures warm above freezing and the water evaporates, it leaves a hole under the pavement.
Because there is no longer a
base, the pavement becomes weak and collapses under the weight of traffic — and that collapse creates a pothole.
It’s impossible to stop potholes from forming, but weather is important to determine how bad a so-called pothole season might be. A winter
with several thaw-freeze cycles can create more potholes. A wet winter can also increase the number once a freeze does hit.
Potholes often begin small and minor, but those craterlike holes I mentioned develop as additional weight and wear
from traffic moves over the pothole and expands its size over time. Because conditions are not ideal in winter for pothole repair, it’s often not until the spring that potholes are filled unless bad enough that a cold patch will do the trick in the meantime.
We can’t avoid all potholes — but keep a close eye on those painful potholes to avoid damaging your vehicle.