The melt is on, Lehigh Valley
How to prepare — and prevent flooding — as warmer temps arrive
The Lehigh Valley is warming up after weeks of freezing temperatures and heavy snow. It could hit 50 degrees Wednesday, kick-starting the melting process.
When people think of wind in the winter, they often think of the wind chill and the “real feel” temperature. In this case, winds will shift and begin to bring a steady supply of milder air working over the snowpack.
Wednesday could be the warmest day this week. We should see mostly sunny skies, with the cadence of dripping gutters and storm drains as the big melt begins.
According to the the U.S. Geological Survey, an inch of snow falling evenly on 1 acre of ground is equivalent to about 2,715 gallons of water. That’s based on the ruleof-thumb that 10 inches of snow is equal to 1 inch of water, and will vary depending on whether snow is heavy and wet, or powdery and dry.
Heavy, wet snow like the Lehigh Valley saw Monday has a very high water content — 4 or 5 inches of this kind of snow contains about 1 inch of water. Thus, an inch of very wet, heavy snow over an acre might yield more than 5,400 gallons of water (while an inch of powdery snow might yield only about 1,300 gallons).
All that moisture could create issues for homeowners in the coming days.
According to the National Home Security Alliance, there are a number of steps you should take to prevent damage to your home as the snow begins to melt:
Start by removing snow and ice dams from the gutters and roof, and brush away any snow from basement window wells and stairwells.
Make sure that the street storm sewer closest to your home is free from snow and debris and the water has a place to go.
Clear snow from around the walls of your home. You should aim to clear about 4-6 feet all around to prevent water from seeping into your foundation.
Inspect external walls to identify if you have any cracks. If the cracks are small, an epoxy sealer is a quick and cheap way to seal them and prevent water from entering your home. If the cracks are large, contact a professional.
Invest in a sump pump and test it regularly to make sure it works. The sump pump will allow you to pump water out of your home quickly and effectively. By removing the water as quickly as possible, there is far less chance of your home sustaining significant damage.
Dry any water-damaged areas using air movers and dehumidifiers to prevent mold.
While meteorologists are not expecting significant flooding from snow melt in the coming days, they are watching model guidance for the weekend. Several systems are likely to bring a mix of rain and snow to the region Friday night into Saturday, tapering off Saturday night into Sunday.
Temperatures Saturday will “warm appreciably and into the 40s to 50s,” the National Weather Service said, with more rain possible Sunday into Monday.
Snowmelt flooding could become a concern in this type of pattern due to high soil moisture conditions, frozen ground, heavy snow cover and widespread rain during the melting period.