The forecast for past several days has been terrible with warnings and advisories for gusting winds, heavy rain and ice and several inches of snow slated to blow into the Philadelphia area.

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Firefighters said the flooding was caused by a mixture of heavy rain and rising temperatures thawing snow and ice, and have warned people to listen to forecasts.

BBC: Wales weather: Floods possible as heavy rain forecast

Then, when snow or rain wash them onto an ice floe, they darken its surface and thus cause it to melt faster.

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