There’s a new threat attacking homes and annoying homeowners in the Twin Cities… ice dams! All that snow on top of your house can melt from the underside and start to freeze as it hits the cold open air. The frozen runoff then forms an ice dam that pools up water on the roof, and the pooled up water runs into the house, causing an incredibly expensive amount of damage.

Also one of the biggest problems with the snow and the citizens and the roofs? People are getting hurt — and two have even died — after falling off their roofs in an attempt to clear the snow. So that’s not good.

The city of St. Paul has issued a damn ice dam warning because the impending rain will add to the protective over layer on the roof; the STrib looks at all the damage causes by the leaking water; and DeRusha investigates warning signs of this terrible new phenomenon (icicles!).