How does snowmelt cause flooding?

12/02/2021

Much of the United Kingdom experienced extremely cold temperatures this week. Where there was precipitation (and in some parts of the South East of England and Scotland there was a lot!) it fell as snow. Disguising the towns, cities and countryside in a uniformly beautiful white blanket, snow looks great for photos on your Instagram account! But when it thaws, all that water has to go somewhere...

In combination with other factors, melting snow can lead to localised flooding events. These are the conditions to look out for:

• Saturated ground prior to snowfall. If there have been heavy rains before the cold arrives then the ground is already saturated with water. This limits the amount of extra water that the ground can absorb.
• A swift thaw. If the snow melts faster than the ground is able to absorb it, you are going to get excess water run off.
• Frozen ground. Similarly, if the ground remains frozen as the snow above it melts, then it is less porous and less able to absorb the water from the snowmelt.
• Widespread heavy rain. Warm wet weather will quickly turn snow to slush then water and you have the double threat of flooding from the heavy rain and the melted snow.

Be Prepared

At Flood Ark, we manufacture and install flood barriers that offer property level protection for homes and businesses at risk of flooding. We designed them so they could be deployed quickly in conditions where flash flooding, river flooding or coastal flooding is likely to occur. They have been thoroughly tested in the laboratory and in genuine emergencies. 

Call us on 01603 879977 to arrange for our survey team to assess the flood risk to your property. Alternatively, if you have any questions, email info@floodark.com.

To see the latest images of our installations and to read the articles we share on floods and flooding, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.