Potholes are a pain in the asphalt, so the city of Suffolk is conducting a “Pothole Blitz” campaign across the city next week.

The public is invited to assist the city in finding and repairing all the potholes by “nominating their favorite pothole.” Residents can call, email or fill out a form on the website to submit a pothole.

Pothole patching is an ongoing process, and the city will continue to respond to requests as they are received year-round, said Debbie George, spokeswoman for the city.

However, potholes are more common in the spring because they are caused by water that seeps into the asphalt, freezes, expands and then thaws. The weight of traffic loosens the weak pavement and causes it to crumble.

Especially harsh winters with lots of snow can result in a bumper crop of potholes.

The city’s pothole blitz on its 1,500 miles of roadways coincides with a statewide blitz on its 58,000 miles of state-maintained roadways. The Virginia Department of Transportation’s ongoing program prioritizes potholes based on location and severity.

Suffolk’s program will seek to repair all the existing potholes next week. If the weather doesn’t cooperate — repairs hold up best when it’s warm and dry — then repairs will continue during the first week of April.

Citizens can report potholes by any of several methods: by calling 514-7600; by emailing PWcontact@suffolkva.us; or by using the link on the front page of the city’s website, www.suffolkva.us.