NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The rain might not be the only thing you can expect while driving around in Nashville over the next few days.

The Nashville Department of Transportation warned drivers on Friday that the rain could also cause potholes to open up on roads. According to McConnell and Associates, a pavement services company, potholes are a common issue that forms when precipitation seeps into pavement that has cracked from environmental exposure and general wear and tear.

The bulk of the issues happen during colder months when the precipitation seeps into the cracks, freezes and then thaws.

“Each time the water freezes and expands, it forces the asphalt to crack and break apart,” McConnell and Associates says. “And each time it thaws, it melts and drains away, leaving behind subsurface cavities or hollow spaces beneath the pavement. The created voids compromise the structural integrity of the surface, making it more susceptible to damage under the pressure of passing vehicles.”

Nashville Department of Transportation said that it has filled more than 11,300 potholes since Jan. 1.

If you come across a pothole, you can submit the issue through the hubNashville mobile app or online at hub.Nashville.gov. You can also report them by calling 311.