Pennsylvania's state roads will not require extensive pothole repair thanks to a relatively light snow and little need for plowing this past winter, officials said.

Crews with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation have begun their yearly process of identifying and repairing potholes that have been created during the past winter. But, thanks to mild winter, Pennsylvania's pothole problem is not as bad as it's been in the past.

"[Potholes] are not as much of a problem this year as they were last year," said PennDOT spokesman Greg Penny. "We've had the time to keep on top of potholes as they've developed."

PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards said the department has invested more than $6 million in asphalt for pothole repairs so far this year.

Richards said potholes can form overnight and generally appear during the transition from cold to warm weather.

Potholes develop after snow or rain seeps into the soil below the road surface. The moisture freezes when the temperatures drop, causing the ground to expand and push the pavement up.

"Our biggest enemy is water," Penny said.

Then, when the temperatures rise, the ground returns to normal level but the pavement often remains raised. This creates a gap between the pavement and the ground below it.

As cars and trucks drive over that cavity, the pavement surface cracks and falls into the hollow space. Viola, a pothole is born.

When there's a light winter, there's fewer opportunities for water to get underneath the road surfaces. Also, Penny said, the crews were able to do more road work because it wasn't as cold or snowy.

Penny said road crews were able to perform cold patches -- a semi-permanent repair until hot asphalt becomes available in the spring.

"We're always chasing potholes through January, February and March," Penny said. "Once we get into April, we get access to the hot asphalt which make a more long lasting fix."

How to report potholes

While road crews try their best to find potholes on state roads, some of the best information is provided by drivers.

Call 1-800-FIX-ROAD to report a pothole on a state road. Callers will be asked for a detailed description of potholes' location and size.