Buffalo braces for post-snow flooding as weather warms up
Posted Nov 24, 2014 3:40 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The mayor of Buffalo is urging residents to prepare for flooding following the record-breaking snowfall last week.
With temperatures forecast to rises into the double digits on Monday, the over 200 centimetres of snow that fell last week is now melting.
The U.S. National Weather Service has issued a flood warning and cautions that trees weakened by heavy snowfall and saturated soil could come crashing down.
Wind gusts of up to 95 km/h could also topple hydro wires and trigger power outages.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said the city is making significant progress clearing snow-clogged streets even as a flooding threat looms.
Brown said Sunday a ban on driving will continue in hard-hit South Buffalo as hundreds of dump trucks, loaders and other snow removing equipment continue to work around the clock.
Temperatures in the Buffalo area rose into the 40s Sunday, raising fears of flooding in a region. A flood warning from the National Weather Service is in effect until Monday afternoon.
City officials said residents should prepare for the possibility of flooded basements in the coming days.
The state already is moving stockpiles of pumps, sand bags and other flood provisions into the region.
