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

Another 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 are asking homeowners to watch out 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 calls 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.

John Phalen, the manager of Public Works with CBRM, said crews are continuing to clear snow from the previous storms. 

He said the priority is areas prone to flooding, where a lot of catch basins are still buried.

"Hopefully, when the time comes, those areas at least will have some access to the storm system so that we can get rid of the water and the road doesn't turn into a river," Phalen told CBC Radio's Maritime Noon on Friday.

"And then we have to be aware that right after this we've got a quick freeze and so we don't want the roads to turn into skating rinks."

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, 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."

February has been a tricky month for snow clearing in HRM. The municipality was under its budget for snow clearing to start the month, but has now used up much of its budget.

"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.