While warmer temperatures and rain Wednesday on top of already thick snow cover had some area residents preparing for possible flooding, officials say cooler temperatures are on the way and no waterways are expected to breach their banks. 

Greg DeVoir, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Bureau in State College, said Wednesday’s rain — between a half inch and an inch — would be largely absorbed by the sitting snow, which tops a foot across much of the area.  

If temperatures were milder and the dew point higher, snow melt would be combined with the rainfall and heighten the risk of flooding. 

“The only threat we have is extensive ice jams on rivers and streams (that could cause flooding) and there is no way to predict where that will occur,” DeVoir said. 

The McKean County 911 Center had received no calls about flooding as of Wednesday afternoon. 

For his part, McKean County Emergency Management Agency deputy director Gerard Rettger said flood prone parts of the county, including Crosby, Norwich Township and some valley areas of the Allegheny River, could see high water, but nothing widespread.  

Temperatures are expected to drop down again in the coming days, with highs below freezing over the weekend. This should silence the flood alarm, for a little longer at least. 

Rettger said it is difficult to gauge whether flooding is likely in the spring. 

Icy road conditions did result in closures on Wednesday morning by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. 

These included Route 948 in both directions in Elk County between the PennDOT stockpile and Powers Avenue in Johnsonburg. PennDOT expected the road to be reopened later that same morning.