High water across the county
By BOB CLARK THE EVENING TRIBUNE

The Conhocton River ran high high near the Bath VA last week as a winter thaw melted snow and ice across the region's river valleys

Old man winter dealt the region a one-two punch last week: first the rain, then the ice.

Residents across the Tier dealt with minor flooding mid-week after two days of rain and thawing temperature melted frozen ice from the previous week's ice storm, filling drainage ditches and causing flooding along some area rivers.

Accu-Weather meteorologist Eric Wilhelm reported 1.25 inches of rain fell on Steuben County Wednesday.

"Some of that was sleet, but most of it was rain," he said.

Throughout the weekend, the weather was expected to cool off. With little rain in the forecast, local emergency service officials can now assess the minor damage done by the mid-winter thaw.

According to Michael Sprague, director of the Steuben County Office of Emergency Services, several rivers rose to flood stage Wednesday, but the waters began retreating quickly.

"We have rivers that are bank-full or slightly out of bank-full," he said Thursday. "It appears at this point most things have subsided."

Sprague noted residents across the county have complained of flooded basements and some flooding along roadways; however, no roads were closed due to the weather.

The Canisteo River in Cameron Mills was a cause of alarm for some residents. According to Janie Ferguson, the river began rising around 4 a.m. Wednesday. "If they hadn't put in a new bridge (on county Route 11)), it would have just flooded out," she said.