For almost a week, roads on the SouthCoast were covered in 3 feet of snow. Now that the snow is melted, the roads may be treacherous for a whole other reason.

 

Pothole season has begun as the area thaws out and temperatures rise.

 

According to AAA, the Northeast is a prime place for potholes to form because of our rapid freeze-thaw cycles. And if you hit one, it can cause hundreds of dollars in damage to your car — not just your tires, but wheels, joints and suspensions.

 

Here’s how potholes form, how to report them to city officials, and how to avoid hitting them in the first place.

 

Potholes are caused when moisture in the form of rain or snow seeps through cracks in the pavement or the sub-base.

 

When that moisture freezes, it becomes ice and expands, opening those cracks further and allowing more moisture to get into the pavement.

 

After a thaw, that ice melts, leaving an empty cavity under the pavement. Driving over that cavity crushes the pavement into it, and bang — you’ve got a pothole.

 

See more at heraldnews.com.