Flooding becomes new threat in Buffalo area as snow ends

By Carolyn Thompson

BUFFALO, N.Y. — After a three-day onslaught that dumped a historic 7 feet (2.1 metres) of snow on the Buffalo area iand killed at least 12 people, the sun came out, but so did predictions of flooding caused by rain and temperatures of up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius).

Weather Service meteorologist Jon Hitchcock said there might be trouble with drainage as snow and the uncollected autumn leaves underneath blocked catch basins.

“The biggest flood threat would be on Monday when temperatures are at their warmest,” he said. “There could be general urban flooding.”

The water tied up in the snowpack — roughly the equivalent of six inches (15 centimetres) of rain — could be released over the course of two days, said deputy Erie County executive Richard Tobe.

A car is weighed down by heavy snow. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

He said flooding would likely affect mostly basements and creeks.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Sunday to Wednesday.

“We are preparing now for more flooding than we’ve seen in a long, long time,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. Cuomo said the state was sending in pumps, boats, helicopters and high-axle vehicles that can operate in 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 metres) of water.

“If we’re lucky we won’t need any of it,” he said. “But prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

The snow remained a huge challenge. Officials were still urging people to put off nonessential travel so snow removal efforts could progress. Cuomo reopened a 132-mile (212-kilometre) stretch of an interstate highway that had been closed since Tuesday, but several exit ramps remained closed along the westernmost 75 miles (120 kilometres).

Snow covers a stranded truck. BATAVIA DAILY NEWS OUT; DUNKIRK OBSERVER OUT; JAMESTOWN POST-JOURNAL OUT; LOCKPORT UNION-SUN JOURNAL OUT; NIAGARA GAZETTE OUT; OLEAN TIMES-HERALD OUT; SALAMANCA PRESS OUT; TONAWANDA NEWS OUT

The governor said roads remain “very dangerous.”

Local travel bans were beginning to be lifted Friday so delivery trucks can bring in food and other essentials to depleted supermarkets, the governor said.

Two more deaths were announced. A 50-year-old man was found Friday morning in his car, which was buried in snow in Cheektowaga, police said. The cause of death wasn’t immediately known.

One elderly resident of a nursing home, also in Cheektowaga, died after it was evacuated amid concerns of a roof collapse, a spokeswoman for the home said.

More than 30 major roof collapses, most involving farm and flat-roof buildings, were reported overnight, officials said Friday.