Concerns rise over severe flooding risk (Maine)

[jpak]

http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=161212&zoneid=500

With snow still coming down by the foot seemingly every week, it may not feel like spring is around the corner.

But the combination of large snowbanks and warmer temperatures — whenever they finally arrive for good — has heightened concerns about severe spring flooding throughout Maine.

On Thursday, more than 20 field researchers, emergency management officials and dam experts will gather in Augusta to discuss the potential for flooding as one of the snowiest winters in recent history melts away.

"The flood potential is going to be higher because of the snowpack," said Greg Stewart, data section chief for the U.S. Geological Survey office in Augusta.

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[Myrina]

1. ... but there's no such thing as global warming ...

... all this really odd and unusual weather we've seen over the past 18 months is NOT - I repeat, NOT a sign that the scientists are right about that warming-thing.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. On the weird weather note, I can remember back when I was in college.. maybe

April of '91?? We had monster snowbanks in the Farmington parking lots. Dozen feet or more tall. And one particular day found a lot of us girls in bikinis on our beach towels behind the dorm trying to get the first tan of the year because it was blisteringly hot. 80s or more! (Farmington has seen its fair share of floods over the years, too. I can remember driving through "puddles" where the water would seep in through the bottom crack of the door.)

[ensho]

2. the worst case would be if the melt was FAST and temps have been

turning fast. 70s one day 30s the next, etc.

hope everybody gets prepared so losses are less.

sounds like the state is on the ball

[jpak]

3. I'm in the process of getting flood insurance for my camp - first time ever

It's got a 30 day waiting period before it kicks in -(fingers crossed)...

The people in the town office said they were getting lots of requests for floodplain info (so at least I'm not the only one worrying at night).

There's 4 level feet of snow in the woods and 1-2 feet of ice on the lakes and rivers - if we have another Patriot's Day-type storm this year - it will be *very* bad...

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. 30 days?? Eeee... you are right on the edge timing-wise. Hope the camp is

up north or in the mountains where it'll take a wee bit longer for spring to show up.

[jpak]

8. It's in western Maine - it had no problems in '36 or '87 but I'm worried about ice jams

There's a bottleneck at the outlet (a new bridge) if that jams up, it'll be bad....and there's at least 18 inches of ice on the lake right now.

On edit: this all crept up on me (like the snow pile in my fron yard) - I didn't start thinking about until after the last weekend's storm...

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Yeah, the ice is gonna make you or break you

[mainegreen]

4. We're getting more snow too this weekend.

There's 5 feet on the ground up near my parents .

I'm sick of it, but we're possibly getting walloped again this weekend.

If this keeps up might even make it the 4th snowiest season on record.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! I want spring, darn it!