City of Calgary warns of significant snow melt this weekend

This weekend is expected to be a beautiful one. The clouds will part, the temperatures will rise, the sun will come out, and…. we’re going to see some serious snow thaw, which might not actually be for the best.

The City of Calgary has recently released a warning for residents, stating that the combination of high snow piles and rapidly warming temperatures could combine to become a damaging mixture.

“The warm weather combined with the large amount of snow received in recent weeks will likely result in significant snow melt and this could create challenges for all of us,” the public service announcement stated.

The solution is, in classic Calgary fashion, to do a bit more shoveling before the warm weather really hits.

The City has offered a few tips and tricks for how to protect your house when the snow starts melting, and we’ve posted them here to give you a quick heads up:

Shovel snow away from the foundation of your home and window wells to prevent seepage into your basement.

If you are moving or piling snow, check furnace and exhaust vents to make sure snow and ice are not blocking them. Carbon monoxide can build up within your home as a result.

Ensure your downspouts (eavestroughs) are clear and pointed away from your home/foundation.

Once the snow begins to melt and the storm drain is visible, clear snow away from the storm drain.

If you find that the storm drain is iced over, do not try to remove the ice yourself. Call 311 and a crew will clear the ice for you. Don’t chip away at ice on storm drains as you may damage it or injure yourself.

If water pools by the storm drain, give it 90 minutes to drain. The City of Calgary has special devices in the storm drains that allow the water to drain slowly and not overload the storm-water system.

If you see pooled water on a roadway, be careful – don’t drive through deep water as you can’t see potentials risks.

Check the function of your sump pump.

Clean out your back flow prevention valve which should be cleaned every six months.

While moving snow may not be the most enjoyable task after those few rough weeks we’ve just seen, do keep in mind that these precautions are meant to keep your building in shape, and your family/roommates/pets safe and sound.

So… where’s that shovel?

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