Flooding could be problem for VW County

Van Wert independent/EMA information

Think snow and cold temps were the end of Van Wert County’s weather concerns? Think again.

According to Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy, a variety of weather and flooding is in store for the next week making for a very interesting winter thus far.

The large snowfall this winter has built up a considerable amount of actual water, to the equivalent of 3.1 inches in the snow packs. This, in combination with rains expected to arrive in the upcoming week, may create some real flooding concerns, McCoy noted.

“Area residents are urged to watch forecasts closely in the next seven days, as this is not going to be just a river flooding issue, but, with catch basins clogged with snow and ice, as well as frozen ground, there is a risk for widespread flooding in places it usually doesn’t occur,” McCoy said.

The EMA director stated one of his first concerns at hand is the snow and ice buildup on rooftops. Snow and ice has accumulated since January 16, along with an inch of rain that fell February 1 and soaked into the snowpack, creating ice.

Current calculations indicate that would equate to 18,728 pounds, or nine tons of snow and ice, in an area 30 by 40 feet or 1,200 square feet. Another inch of rain or more expected this upcoming week will add an additional 3 tons and bring the 1,200 square foot area to 12 tons — a sure bet for collapsing rooftops or overhangs.

McCoy said a real problem has been the ice on the roofs making it too dangerous to try and remove the buildup. Buildings and homes particularly at risk are those with secondary roofs where snow has slid down on top of the lower roof and piled up and has doubled the weight load.

McCoy is now monitoring weekend weather, with cold temperatures and a chance of an inch of snow predicted for Saturday night. Following that, National Weather Service forecast models indicate a weather system coming in Monday morning that is expected to start out as freezing rain and some sleet in the morning, before changing to all rain in the afternoon as temperatures rise into the 30s, with up to a half inch of rain possible.

The EMA director says that, as temperatures get into the 40s and dew points rise by Wednesday, the threat of fog may again become a big issue for area schools. Fog problems are likely to persist for Thursday — and maybe into Friday.

Finally, the concern for flooding could increase dramatically on Thursday, when an inch of rain is possible, along with melting snow, as temperatures approach 50 degrees. McCoy advised that ice jams remain a problem in rivers, as well as the runoff of melting snow, and the total of up to 1½ inches of rain during the week will amount to the equivalent of five inches of water on frozen ground.

The big question, the EMA director said, is will it stay warm and melt all of the snow — releasing all of the water — or will it turn colder after Thursday, keeping some of the rainfall trapped in snow that doesn’t melt? If the warm-up continues past Thursday, serious flooding will definitely occur, so future weather forecasts are being watched closely.