Snowmelt, rain may cause flash flooding

Flash flooding is possible Friday night through Saturday as 1 to 3 inches of rain will have few places to drain due to the snow.

No homeowners will likely be needing to get out the sandbags, yet, but motorists should be aware of ponding on roadways, especially in low-lying areas.

"Basically, what we're going to have is melting snow and rain," Saline County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Allan C. Ninness said.

The National Weather Service predicts a wintry mix Friday night, a high of 42 degrees on Saturday with rain turning to wintry mix at night.

The melting snow might put an equivalent of an inch of precipitation in drainage areas and if the rain comes quickly pooling and ponding on roads is assured.

"The main concern is going to be travel," Ninness said.

If the rain begins as a slow drizzle the impact will be lessened.

Ninness was to attend a conference call with the National Weather Service at 4 p.m. Thursday for an update on areas most likely to be impacted.

He encourages homeowners who experience basement flooding in heavy rains to check their sump pumps to see if they are operating correctly and not frozen over.