Prepare for coming storm by making sure rain can drain off snow, frozen ground, officials say

A third blast of wet and cold weather this weekend will deliver a mix of heavy rain, high winds and then plummeting temperatures for parts of Nova Scotia.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Thursday afternoon ahead of the expected rainfall on Saturday. It warns of the risk of flooding over existing snow and ice and also because frozen ground doesn’t absorb runoff. 

In particular, officials with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) are asking homeowners to be on the lookout for flooding.

“The contours of the snow banks and the ice that’s currently piled up everywhere really kind of shifts things a bit and can result in some local flooding that we might not otherwise expect,” said Christina Lamey, head of communications for the CBRM.

Lamey warns that the heavy rain, which is forecast to fall for most of the day Saturday, will not be absorbed by the ground, causing challenges in water draining from properties. 

In particular, people who still have snow on top of their homes may be susceptible to more weight due to the rain. 

“People should be concerned and watching their roofs and the amount of snow that might be accumulated in certain places like that,” she said. “If rainfall were to come quickly and pool … it might not simply just run off at this stage.”

As of Friday, the forecast for CBRM is calling for between 30-50 millimetres of rain, combined with gusting winds of 70-90 km/h. Following the rain, temperatures are expected to drop well below freezing, which may create even more difficulties for drainage.

Municipal officials throughout Nova Scotia are asking people to clear storm drains or other escape routes for rain and melting water to leave their properties.

There are similar concerns in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), particularly in areas of the city that have had other floods.

HRM officials say crews will be out preparing the roads for falling temperatures on Sunday, but advise residents that it may take some time before it’s safe for vehicle or foot traffic.

“The concern this time around is ice forming after the rainfall,” said Ryan Nearing, public affairs officer for HRM. “Municipal crews will be active throughout the weekend, including applying salt in advance of any ice forming.”

For the HRM, February has been a tricky month for snow clearing. At the start of the month, the municipality was under budget with snow clearing. Now, they’re close to maxing out.

“We’re [at] about 70 per cent of our projected budget that goes until the end of March 2024, the end of the fiscal year,” said Nearing. 

Both Nearing and Lamey ask residents to phone 311 if they have concerns about a plugged catch basins in their communities.