Snow's effect on buildings

[Michael K.]

All this winter weather in the Northeast has got me randomly thinking about what snow's effect on a multi-family building are? Is it best to quickly shovel off a flat roof of all the snow accumulated right after the blizzard hits, so as to minimize the amount of new weight on the roof? And also to minimize potential leaks? Moreover, all that snow could eventually freeze and turn to ice which I imagine would be an even heavier load on the roof. What are the precautions and steps before and after a snow storm that you personally take as a property manager or landlord on your properties? Kind of a random question, I know, but I'd be interested to hear other's takes on this.

[Mark Updegraff]

Understood, but if you get 10" of snow and it turns to ice, it doesn't weigh more. In fact it is likely less since it would have to melt or enter mixed phase to convert.