Despite big snow totals, flooding not a concern moving forward

 

The sun Friday helped start the melt of the snow across Michiana.

Berrien County was one of the hardest hit areas, with snow totals in Buchanan and Niles at nine and ten inches, respectively.

With warm weather and rain potentially on the way, some are wondering if flooding could be in store soon.

While the forecast might seem concerning, when you look closely at the ingredients involved, the overall doesn't seem that bad.

First, the amount of water in the snow that fell is very low. In the 10 inches of snow that fell in Niles, there was only 0.27 inches of water in that snow. Because the snow that fell was so light and fluffy, the snow's "liquid equivalent" was on the lower side. With all rivers below flood stage, this is simply not enough water to cause major concerns.

Also, since the snow isn't that heavy, it should melt quickly. Additionally, forecast rainfall amounts should remain light as well. The latest projections bring Michiana under a half inch of rain by Thursday.

We will continue to monitor river levels and the forecast over the coming days, so stay tuned for updates.