Hamburg sits in the snow belt south of the city, and the lake-effect bands that come off Lake Erie put down accumulations here that the northern suburbs never see.
Snow load on a roof is a real structural concern in a heavy winter, and the water that comes off it when the thaw arrives has to go somewhere.
What we deal with in Hamburg homes
Ice damming and roof water intrusion after a heavy band, and the meltwater volume that follows. A roof carrying a substantial load sheds a lot of water quickly when the temperature turns.
Sump systems then take that volume at ground level, and a system sized for ordinary rain can be overwhelmed by a fast thaw on top of frozen ground.
How much snow on a roof is too much?
It is weight rather than depth, and wet snow is far heavier than dry. If you are seeing sagging, doors sticking, or new cracks in interior finishes, treat that as urgent rather than seasonal.
Water came in at an upstairs wall after a thaw.
That is meltwater backing up under the roof covering, usually at an ice dam. The roof is not necessarily damaged, and the insulation and wall assembly behind it are wet regardless.