Oregon Public Broadcasting

The snow is forecast to change over to rain in coming days.  While that’s welcome news for a lot of us, it brings the risk of urban street flooding. 

Emergency managers request that if snow blocks the storm drain on your street, you dig it out. 

National Weather Service meteorologist Tyree Wilde says the risk of major river flooding is low for the time being.

Tyree Wilde: “As you know, we have a deep snowpack everywhere right now.  There is going to be rain falling on some of that snowpack.  But the snow is going to be able to absorb some of that rain to a certain point, to where it is going to have to run off.  So it’s something that we have to monitor very closely over the next week to two weeks.”

Wilde says water-logged snow raises concern about roofs collapsing.  Carports and awnings are at most risk. 

Local officials say a house built up to code should withstand the amount of snow that’s fallen.  They discourage climbing on a pitched roof to clear snow. 

The risk of injury to yourself could be much higher than the risk to your home right now.

More advice to pass along includes directing snowmelt away from your foundation. 

Try to make sure your downspouts are free of ice and snow, and that they carry water several feet from your house to a well-drained area.