NORTHWEST WISCONSIN – While many of us welcome the slightly warmer temperatures experienced over the last week or so, the mild weather presents its own unique challenges for our local road crews. Temperatures shot above the 40-degree mark across most of the area early last week, causing snow that’s been around since December to finally begin melting. On the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 7, road crews with the village of Frederic were seen out and about making sure that sewers were clear so that all of the accumulated snow could properly drain. Before crews arrived, there was quite a substantial ponding of water near the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue North (State Highway 35) and Hope Road West.
Homeowners can also prepare for the warmer days ahead when a lot of our snowpack is going to melt. Before the melting starts, you should move snow away from your home. One cubic foot of compacted snow holds between 2 and 3 gallons of water, according to North Dakota State University’s website. Once that snow melts, it soaks everything in its path. NDSU advises homeowners to move snow a few feet away from their homes so that water doesn’t drip along basement walls, seep inside and cause damage. Moving snow off the roof before temperatures rise can also help prevent serious leaks. A 1,000-square-foot roof covered in 1 foot of snow holds 2,500 gallons of water, NDSU said. Check your gutters, too. Even if they’re clean, water can turn to ice and cause blockage, leading to large and small pools of water. And don’t forget to clear the small spaces, digging snow out from window wells, doors and exterior stairwells, Bieritz Insurance Agency advises. “As little as 6 inches of melting snow and ice can lead to flooding,” the insurance company in Cooperstown, New York, says on its website.
