More weather misery on horizon for beleaguered Buffalo

The cold eased and it was no longer snowing Sunday in battered Buffalo and elsewhere around the Great Lakes.

Here comes the rain. And behind that, another foot of snow.

Areas that saw up to 7 feet of lake-effect snow in recent days were basking in temperatures well above freezing Sunday. Buffalo could see 60 degrees on Monday. The warmer temperatures and half-an-inch of rain by late Monday could mean intense flooding for the beleaguered region.

"They are going to have flooding problems, there is no doubt about that," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Jack Boston said.

Boston said the lake-effect snow is usually "the real fluffy stuff." But last week's storm came early in the season when Lake Erie's water temperature was still in the 50s -- the warm water brought wetter, heavier snow.

The Big Melt will pass into history by Tuesday when a wave of arctic air will sweep across the region.

"Some areas could see another foot of snow Tuesday. Isn't that nice ..." Boston said.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning into Monday afternoon for the Great Lakes region. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz told Buffalo's WGRZ-TV his county is stockpiling water pumps, 69,000 water bottles and 5,300 meals-ready-to-eat.

New York State is also providing a five-county area with 51 boats, 375 heavy-duty water pumps, 29 high-axle vehicles, more than 500 National Guard troops and more than 176,000 sandbags.

The snow storm, blamed for at least a dozen deaths, began Monday and lasted deep into the week. More than 30 roof collapses have been reported in the Buffalo area alone, but the National Weather Service warned that residents attempting to clear snow from their roofs should proceed with caution.

Rain collecting in rooftop snow will add stress to a roof. The weather service warned that residents inside their homes should evacuate immediately if they hear cracking or popping from the roof.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jon Hitchcock also warned that storm drains could clog as snow and uncollected autumn leaves block catch basins.

City officials said residents should prepare for the possibility of flooded basements in the coming days.

"We are preparing for the worst but hoping for the best," Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said. He said the city was making significant progress clearing streets, but that a ban on driving will continue in hard-hit South Buffalo. Hundreds of dump trucks, loaders and other snow removal equipment continued to work around the clock, he said.

Contributing: WGRZ-TV in Buffalo; Associated Press