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- Proposed Policy Clarification -
NWS Support for State/Local Departments of Transportation
Hazardous weather conditions can often negatively impact surface transportation. Local, municipal and state Departments of
Transportation (DOTs) are at the forefront of mitigating the impact of weather-related hazards through proper planning and
deployment of critical resources, and even closing roads when needed to protect the traveling public. Even a thin glaze or
ice or snow can result in automobile pileups that can strand motorists and result in extended periods of exposure to cold
and wind; limited visibility due to fog or smoke can lead to horrific pileups; flooding can close highways and even destroy
bridges.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service ( NWS) has an uncompromising commitment
to public safety and regularly interacts with a wide variety of partners to support its mission of protecting life and property.
This includes interaction with DOTs to ensure they understand the information provided in our products related to hazardous
weather, especially with respect to winter weather conditions that are anticipated or already occurring. NWS has been and will
continue to provide these types of services.
NWS support of DOTs focuses on our expertise and understanding of the evolution and timing of hazardous weather events. The NWS
does not have specialized expertise in forecasting surface/pavement conditions of roads, nor does NWS have the expertise to assess road treatment options. These types of comprehensive services, e.g., supporting
winter road maintenance decisions, are available from America’s Weather Industry (private sector providers of weather services).
They include customized consulting services to provide value-added information or, in other words, information which goes beyond the
strict provision of information related to expected weather conditions as it relates to travel safety.
As NWS works to refine its internal policies for the provision of DOT support oriented towards the protection of life and property,
we believe that greater clarity in providing weather support to DOTs will improve understanding and lead to better services for all
parties involved. To that end, we have drafted proposed policy principles (attached) which clarify NWS services in this area, and we
are interested in your views and comments. Again, we don’t see this as a change in our current level of support, as much as a
clarification of the level of support NWS is committed to provide.
Proposed Policy Principles for NWS Support of State/Local DOTs
This file is in Adobe Acrobat® format. The free
reader/printer for these files is available from
http://www.adobe.com.
Please send any comments you may have to nwssp.comments@noaa.gov by May 15, 2009.
//Note: Comments are Currently Closed.//
Update: Final Guidance Memorandum - June 30, 2009
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