In the past, Abenaki Indians would mount a slim rod of balsam wood to predict the weather. Should it curl upward, fair days could be expected; if it drooped, bad weather loomed. Of course, people have come a long way since then; these days, Doppler radars are used to predict the amount of rain, or anemometers to measure wind speed and direction.
Still, forecasting the weather is not foolproof. Indeed, The Washington Post reports that the atmosphere is playing mum about what to expect this winter:
The calendar just flipped over to fall on Sunday, but it’s never too early to look forward to winter. Meteorologists – or at least those in the seasonal prediction business – have already been and will be checking various atmospheric/oceanic signals to guide their outlook for the coldest part of the year. Will the winter be cold and snowy, mild and dry, or some other combination?
The atmosphere is not offering many hints thus far, so it is difficult to tell if this one will be a 2009-10 Snowmaggedon repeat or something more like 2011-12, with wall-to-wall warmth and just a few sympathetic snowflakes.
Whether winter will be mild or harsh, the roofing of Washington, DC homes have to be prepared for the last seasonal change of the year. Below are a few tips homeowners should keep in mind as they await the first snowflakes of winter:
Clean the Gutters
As trees shed their leaves in the fall, most gutters will be choked with foliage and twigs. If the gutter is not cleaned, the debris will prevent the melted snow or rainwater from flowing freely. The water can then accumulate and freeze into bulky ice dams that may cause the gutter to snap off the house.
Mind Your Roof
A roof can only carry so much weight before it collapses, so preventing snow accumulation is imperative. More snow piles up on roofs that are flat or sloped at low angles, so if you want a more angled or steeper roof, which can effectively shed snow, you can count on a DC or Germantown roofing company like Roof Masters for roof replacement services.
Do Repairs Now
No one enjoys doing repairs in the middle of winter, so fall is the last chance homeowners get to address issues like missing shingles, punctured gutters, and leaking ceilings. Doing so allows them to avoid major problems that a faulty roofing system will cause, like mold infestations from excessive humidity.
(Article Excerpt and Image from El Niño, La Niña, La Nada and forecast implications for the upcoming winter, The Washington Post, September 23, 2013)