Winter Warm-Up Is On The Way, Make Sure You’re Ready In New York

It's hard to believe that just over a week ago, the entire region was in the process of being walloped with below freezing temperatures and and lake effect snow that dumped around 80 inches of snow in some parts of the Buffalo area. When 6.5 feet of snow falls in the region within a 5-day span, it leaves an impression.

Of course, that is exactly what happened in the 716, with businesses and schools closing down for a week. That response seems to be an exceptionally reasonable response, especially considering that so much snow fell we'd lose Dion Dawkins in a snow bank.

While the winter season got a late start in New York, it is in full effect now. Or at least it was in full effect since now there is a January thaw on the way to Western New York that has many people worried that this January warm-up will lead to massive snow melt and flooding.

Warmer Temps and Rain Are On The Way To Western New York

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch warning since rain and warmer temps are heading their way in.

The combination of the two may lead to flooding in many areas around Western New York.

Considering that we have several feet of snow that can melt and increase the chances of flooding, what are some things that we can do at home to make sure we keep ourselves and our property safe?

Tips To Protect Your Home From Flooding

There are a few things that you can do today to help reduce the amount of water that may end up in your basement should we see a large snow melt over the next few days.

• Clear Snow and Ice From Your Drainage Areas: If you have a nice pack of snow, shovel some of it away from your sump pump outlets, downspouts, and other storm drains.
• Create A Path For The Water To Flow: When it comes, the water will need to go somewhere. Maybe consider shoveling a channel into the snow to give the water a path away from your house.
• Shovel Snow Away From Your Foundation: We had a lot of snowfall in the last week. Do you have a bunch of it against your house? If yes, shovel or snow-blow that snow away from your foundation. When the snow melts, that snow will be away from the foundation, and that will help it now creep into your basement.
• Pay Attention To The Weather Forecasts: The best thing you can do is make sure you pay attention to the weather reports. Knowing what's coming and when it's going to arrive will help make sure you have time to do the other things.