Road Transport Weather Services

Background Information

Certain NMHSs deliver road transport services by providing weather information and warnings. This is done through arrangements and agreements with the respective roads authorities. In some countries, roads authorities operate weather stations along major roads, collecting data that is very useful in developing forecasting methodologies for localised areas where the roads pass. Cooperation with NMHSs entails availing such data to the NMHSs, which is used for road weather information and forecasts.  Experience within some NMHSs reveals that there are gaps: on the one hand, road managers do not fully understand meteorological phenomena and, on the other, forecasters do not  sufficiently understand the impacts of weather on roads. To close these gaps, and to develop a country road weather service, it is necessary for any NMHS to work closely with its country roads authority and to engage in collaborative capacity building activities such as: 

• Clearly defining functions of both the NMHS and those of the roads authorities;

• Training of forecasters on impacts of the weather on road transport;

• Training of roads managers on meteorological phenomena that impact roads;

• Developing thresholds for intensities of weather phenomena that would trigger issuance of warnings;

• Laying down  contingency measures for response in case of hazardous weather;

(View Examples)