After a record breaking winter, the Chesapeake Bay is facing what may be a record breaking thaw.

Historically, after a large snowfall, the Chesapeake has to cope with runoff and flooding of the bay and its tributaries. During the last large blizzard in 1996, the town of Port Deposit, Maryland, experienced so much excess water and ice that residents were forced to evacuate.

This storm may have an aftermath, too.  As the snow begins to melt off, the massive amount of water flowing into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries could flood shorelines. Cities are already preparing, in anticipation for warmer temperatures and rain that would melt the snowpack more quickly.

Annapolis has made sandbags available in their vulnerable locations of City Dock and Eastport. Ocean City is closely monitoring its shorelines for erosion that is expected with flooding.

At this point flooding has not been an issue. But cities still want to be prepared for what may be a serious situation.