Snow-less may mean flood-less

Just when the National Flood Insurance Program was nibbling away at its monumental debt, along came 2011.

Last year's historic flooding pushed up a $15 billion debt to $17.75 billion, but this year NFIP could catch a break.

Due largely to a general lack of snow, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that no part of the nation confronts a major flood risk this spring.

Of course, spring deluges make such an outlook subject to change without notice, but this marks the first time in four years that NOAA has been able to make such a statement about the lack of flood risks heading into spring.

NOAA reports that river and stream levels are normal to below normal in most of the nation.

In releasing the outlook, the agency also noted that odds favor a warmer-than-normal spring in the East.

Here is the NOAA release.