PathfinderA Wyoming SummaryWYDOT – NWS – DayWeather, Inc.June 30, 2015

Photo Credit: Jeff Garmon, 2014

Parties Involved

WYDOT

National Weather Service Cheyenne, Riverton, Salt Lake City,

Rapid City, Billings

Before Pathfinder

Cooperative relationship WYDOT DayWeather NWS

Working together was often disjointed because there were misunderstandings, lack of knowledge of end-goals

Tended to be slightly more reactive

During Pathfinder

Improved relationship Improvement to communication

More consistent, more action-oriented

Highlighted impacts Coordinated statements

Pathfinder helped build structure and an organized path of communication between all

parties involved.

Strategy & Process

1. Start conversation on NWS-chat (all parties)

2. Discussion of Three Main Items:▪ High impact potential▪ Location of potential impact▪ Timing of potential impact

3. Conference call to discuss further if necessary

4. Come to general agreement of main items5. Disseminate information to public (WYDOT)

GOAL: At least 24 hours before storm

Giving Information to the Public

NWSText products

Graphical productsSocial Media

WYDOTDynamic Message SignsHighway Advisory RadiosEmail Subscription Alerts

BEFORE expected weather event

DMS updated withForecasted message(impact + timing)

NWS Warningissued

DMS updated withWarning + impact + updated time-frame

Form created for WYDOT TMC to

disseminate information accurately

Christmas Day Storm 2014

December 24 – 26, 2014

Image from NWS CYS

Snow Accumulation

Strong Winds

Christmas Day Storm 2014

Christmas Day Storm 2014

Christmas Day Storm 2014

February 4-5, 2015

Weather concerns: Strong winds, blowing & drifting snow, slick road conditions

Increased travel expected at night Cheyenne to Laramie to Fort Collins CSU/Wyo. basketball game in Laramie,

WY February 4th evening

NWS Jeff Garmon:We will likely issue a statement later today for travel conditions late tonight along I-80. Will also hit harder on Facebook/Twitter as we get into late afternoon along I-80 corridor….and point them to the wyoroad.info website

WYDOT Met Julie:…I’m going to give TMC a message to put up [on DMS signs] when there is space. Thinking…”Blowing Snow Expected Tonight Through Thursday 10 AM”. Do you have a more detailed time-frame suggestion? …conditions on 287 will stay snowy/icy, blowing snow probably not as big a concern as on I-80.

February 4-5, 2015

DMS signs updated February 3rd

WINTER WEATHER HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WED 12 AM – THUR 8 AM

I-80 Cheyenne to Laramie

February 4-5, 2015

April 16-17, 2015

April 16-17, 2015

Previous night closure on I-80 created backup

Larger storm system moved in faster than expected (10-11am band of snow)

More traffic than normal Thursday morning 33% increase (based on WYDOT traffic counts)

Pileup resulted from early snowfall (11am) long-term closure of I-80

Smaller weather disturbance expected before larger storm

Wed, April 15, 2015Discussion started.

The thinking was….

Weaker snow event night of 15th

(Winter Weather Advisory)

Low-level warming possible in between

Larger snow event night of 16th-17th

(Winter Storm Warning)

Pathfinder messaging to target larger event

April 16-17, 2015

Thurs, April 16, 2015Discussion continued.

Late-morning band of snow createdproblems on I-80 (pileup situation).

Prevented any low-level warming

Conference call to discuss afternoon/next-day impacts.

April 16-17, 2015

Pathfinder In-Action Improvments

Improved communication throughout season Smaller parties (Rapid City WFO, Iteris)

Better understanding of NWS & WYDOT needs and end-goals for public information NWS traffic volume data, communication with/TMC WYDOT effective messaging (timing, DMS, HARs)

First time WYDOT has displayed forecast information to the public (DMS, email, radio)

Commuter Response to Pathfinder

Pre-storm messaging DMS positive results

Traffic analysis to focus on long-term trends

Variables Unique to Wyoming 80% + traffic is commercial, low %

commuters

Challenges & Improvements

Slick/blowing snow in-between storms Difficult to get pre-storm messaging on signs

Smaller storms prior to larger storms Small weather disturbances can be deceiving April 15-17 (example of this) Combined effort of weather enterprise▪ Forecasts, road weather impacts, traffic data

Challenges & Improvements Involving TMC in communication w/NWS

Phone call? NWSchat?

Timing of Information Focus messages during pre-commute hours

Involving WDOT PIO’s (press releases)

WYDOT Survey Target on commuters and truckers?

Pathfinder - Next Steps

Keeping Pathfinder-practice all year long

Sharing of more information (traffic, etc.)

Re-arranging schedules for improved DMS message timing

Formal after-storm “pow-wow”

Better understanding of how truckers receive and use weather information

Expansion within WY & east?

Pathfinder – Next Steps

Down the road…

Better way to advertise where to get road weather information in states?

More formalized daily communication on overnight shift to set stage for day