ALFRED — Today’s numbers on the outside thermometer might cause one to wonder, but eventually, the temperatures will moderate. They’ll warm a bit at some point ”“ enough to cause snow to thaw, and precipitation will fall as rain.

And that, emergency preparedness folks say, means all the snow that is on your roof will get sogged with water, which could in turn cause a roof collapse.

That is why the York County Emergency Management Agency is urging homeowners and owners of commercial buildings to take a look at their roof, and clear it of snow now if it has built up.

YCEMA spokesman Bob Bohlmann said the rooftop snow is light and fluffy now, and so it’s easier to rake off than it will be once temperatures moderate and the snow starts to become waterlogged and heavy.

Bohlmann said this winter is shaping up like the winters of 2006 and 2007, where copious amounts of snow led to roof collapses in various communities.

And while your house’s roof might be of sufficient pitch that it resists snow accumulation, residential garages and sheds might require raking, as may commercial buildings that have flat roofs.

As well, Central Maine Power Co. is cautioning those working on snow removal projects to be mindful of overhead power lines.

“Ladders, roof rakes, bucket loaders, dump trucks, and other equipment can all conduct electricity, and contacting a power line with any of these items could be deadly,” said Gail Rice, CMP spokeswoman. “We have had several incidents this week where snow removal mishaps disrupted service to customers, and the people doing this work were lucky not to have been hurt.”

The utility points out that the coating on some power lines ”“ particularly service cables to homes ”“ is not designed to protect workers from a serious electrical contact. And because electricity is always seeking a path to ground, a worker, equipment or tools could become part of that path and you risk serious injury, or even death, by accidentally touching a conductor, she said.

The utility offered some tips for staying safe while removing snow:

Ӣ Plan ahead. Take time to look at your job site and identify hazards. Be sure to look up and check for electric cables and other equipment.

Ӣ Keep a distance of at least 10 feet between yourself, tools or materials and power lines.

Ӣ Carry ladders horizontally and close to the ground when moving on the job site and maintain safe clearance when positioning them.

Ӣ Look up and maintain safe clearance when raising a bucket or the bed of a dump truck.

”¢ Don’t let anyone touch a bucket loader, dump truck or other equipment when it’s operating near power lines.

Ӣ Leave the cutting and pruning of trees near power lines to professionals. A tree or limb that comes in contact with a power line could be deadly.

”¢ Call CMP at 800-750-4000 and ask for a safety inspection if you’re planning work near power lines.

 — Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.