What Is Your Limit For Wind?

What do you use to get forecast wind gusts? The Windy phone app seems to work well and allows a sliding timeline. Is there something more useful?

The Weather Channel app

I use Windalert.com. if you click on the "live wind" tab it will give a wind map that you can zoom in on. There are other options you can use in the drop down menu as well.

What do you use to get forecast wind gusts? The Windy phone app seems to work well and allows a sliding timeline. Is there something more useful?

The Weather Channel app

Thanks, Ryan (and also Dave earlier). Michael (as well as myself) have also used that as well as AccuWeather, but it's main limitation is having to check city by city along a route whereas the Windy app shows broad areas. Michael was on the phone with me once and mentioned that he was in a bit of wind and I was able to quickly look and see he had about 50 miles more of similar wind before it got better, not worse. He was in a stretch somewhere in southern Nevada where there were no offramps to pull over but he felt fine to continue on. He does check the weather forecasts out using both weather apps quite a bit when shutting down for the day and when starting up again. He timed things to be able to get over Donner Pass later today before the Winter Storm Warning starts this afternoon at 1600. (2-4' of snow forecast between then and Wednesday at highest elevations).

Most birds stop flying in 30 mph winds.

Tumbleweeds will snap off and start rolling at 40 mph.

Cows will lay down when the barometer is dropping, a great indicator of inclement weather approaching.

How much steering wheel input do you need to supply in order to keep it straight?

If the front end starts getting light on one corner (especially in a long gradual curve), it's too windy.

Watch the trailer tandems in your mirrors. If you see them lift, or can see the front and rear tires on the same side while on a straightaway, it's too windy to drive.

Watch, and listen, to the cab air deflectors at the back of the sleeper. If these are really "screaming and moaning", it's a hard wind from a sideways angle. Same thing goes for the trailer skirts.

I mainly use my eyes, hearing, forearms, and butt in the seat to let me know how much wind is too much for me that day. All the apps and websites are no help when there's no cell service coverage. I can hear Jeff Foxworthy in my head after I typed some of these.

"I don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows!"

Good discussion, and good info.

During my short 7-1/2 months of solo driving, I've pulled off the road to a safe place for the day because of the high winds. My fleet leader was cool with it both times. Once in Wisconsin, and the other time in upstate New York.

To coincide with what PackRat stated:

On Saturday I drove from Gary, IN to Plainwell, MI and then on to Solon, OH. Before I started out, wind advisory was such that I should have just stayed at the truck stop in Gary and waited it out. I made the decision to drive and monitor how bad things were as I drove. I had it in my mind that if I feel unable to control the vehicle, keeping it in my lane and upright, then I would park, notifying dispatch that weather prevented me being able to make the run. I managed fine and got the load to its destination.

I don't blame anyone for choosing to shut it down when the weather calls for it. Just sharing my take that getting out in it can prove it's not as bad as the alerts are indicating or possibly it's as bad, maybe even worse.

This past winter, a major snow storm hit the midwest and northeast. Every affected state's DOT was advising stay off the roads. Some of our drivers got out on the roads to at least test how far they could go. I chose to remain parked for 2 days. I would probably do the same again, until I have more winter driving experience.

The great thing is that we all have companies that stand behind their drivers making the call to drive or not drive.

Ryan wrote:

The great thing is that we all have companies that stand behind their drivers making the call to drive or not drive.

There are limits to their tolerance though. We’ve all seen weather related trailer bans issued by State Highway departments. I’ve seen them actually shut down trucks on roads subject to high winds. If a driver chooses to ignore trailer bans and advisories the consequences could be a citation by the highway patrol or in some extreme cases termination.

Make good decisions regarding weather, carefully considering all relevant information and don’t rely on luck to see your way through safely.

Both my CB and the truck radio are set to receive National Weather Service alerts. So even if I fail to check anything at all, I will at least get those, which can be rather annoying because each time enter a new National Weather Service Tower range I another alert.

Ryan wrote:

The great thing is that we all have companies that stand behind their drivers making the call to drive or not drive.

There are limits to their tolerance though. We’ve all seen weather related trailer bans issued by State Highway departments. I’ve seen them actually shut down trucks on roads subject to high winds. If a driver chooses to ignore trailer bans and advisories the consequences could be a citation by the highway patrol or in some extreme cases termination.

Make good decisions regarding weather, carefully considering all relevant information and don’t rely on luck to see your way through safely.

I didn't think I had to specifically state "stay off the road if authorities require it." I thought that goes without saying. That's sort of like don't drive around the "road closed" barricade.