Even with the latest dumping of snow we received — and more predicted this weekend — local building officials aren't setting off alarms yet calling for residents to knock the deepening white stuff from most rooftops.

But they also caution that rain or wet snow could quickly change the situation.

"At this point it's not a concern," said Justin Miller, Post Falls building official, adding most of the snow received this winter has been light snow.

"Where it could be a problem later is if we get rain that's absorbed into the snow that makes it heavier."

Ed Wagner, Coeur d'Alene's building services director, agreed there isn't a concern with roofs yet.

"The current roof snow conditions should be within the (current) roof design loads of 40 pounds per square foot," he said. "Generally 24 inches or more of wet snow approaches this design. If it's saturated and at 2 feet, that's when we start to give it the eyebrow."

Wagner said some roofs have experienced some drifting that may need to be monitored, especially in the deep valleys.

If rooftops have deep valleys, one problem that could arise is if ice dams form and there's a melt from the heat rising from the roof.

"It could cause water to back up and leak (through the roof)," he said.

Wagner, who lives in Coeur d'Alene, said he knocked the snow off his flat tool shed roof this weekend as a precaution. Flatter roof pitches tend to hold more snow moisture. Weaker roofs such as glass may also need attention.

Both Wagner and Miller discouraged residents from going on top of their roofs to shovel off snow because that poses dangers of falling off. An extension rake or a crew that does such work would be a better choice — if residents decide later they need to knock off the snow.

"The predicted roof conditions next week may be of concern — if we get warmer weather with rain," Wagner said. "If we receive additional snow followed by substantial rain the current dry snow could absorb enough to become a concern."

The winter of 2009 forced many residents to take action on their rooftops. Several roofs, particularly flat ones, collapsed. That memory, Wagner said, is still fresh in people's minds, especially with mostly mild winters since then.

Press Meteorologist Randy Mann said Coeur d'Alene received 10 inches of snow from Saturday through Monday morning. It has already received 55 inches for the year, and the average for an entire winter is 69.7.

"We'll get 80 to 90 inches this year, so this is definitely an old-fashioned winter," he said.

Mann said scattered snow showers are expected today before another deep freeze hits Wednesday through Saturday.

"We could be at 0 again and at least in the single digits," he said.

Mann said another 6 inches of snow is expected to fall this weekend after the cold snap.

For questions on snow loads, contact the building department of your local government agency.

Check for yourself

Residents can check on snow weight on their roof by cutting a 1-foot by 1-foot square the full depth of the snow and weigh it in a plastic bag to determine if your snow load is getting close to the current standard roof snow load of 40 pounds per square foot. This would also need to include any roof ice buildup, so add 5.2 pounds for each inch of ice depth.