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Gusty Winds Pose Significant Travel Risk
February 20, 2023 at 05:38 PM EST
By WeatherBug Sr. Meteorologist, Chad Merrill
As the U.S. makes the transition into spring, big storms will generate gusty winds. While most people relate high winds to power outages; they also pose a significant travel risk.
The first sign of high wind triggering difficult travel is the implementation of wind advisories or high wind watches and warnings by the weather service. If traveling into unfamiliar territory, be advised that winds will accelerate more along straight roads not protected by trees, over bridges and overpasses and between hills.
Not only are large trucks, vans and buses more vulnerable to toppling over in high winds, but they can create significant ups and downs in wind speed that impact smaller cars in their vicinity. Drivers of these smaller vehicles will experience the same turbulence pilots do as they approach a runway on a windy day.
Similar to driving in a winter storm, maintain more than two car lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you on a windy day. This allows you extra time and space to swerve around debris that could fly onto the road and help you to avoid an accident made by any sudden moves from nearby vehicles.
High winds will make steering more of a challenge, so put down the cell phone or sandwich (if you eat while driving) and keep a firm grip of the wheel. Not only will you improve your gas mileage by driving slower in gusty winds, but you will have better control of your vehicle.
These are great reminders as the U.S. enters its traditionally windy season. The Front Range to northern Plains are approaching their traditionally windiest time of the year. Denver averages a wind speed of 10 mph in April. Bismarck, N.D., averages 11.5 mph wind in April and May. Phoenix is known for gusty winds in April and May but also in July with dust storms.
Farther east of the Mississippi River, Cincinnati is gusty in March with an average wind of 8 mph while the Big Apple has its strongest winds in late February and March with an average wind speed of 8.9 mph.
Keep WeatherBug active for the latest wind alerts and remember to drive in a wind storm how you would in a winter storm, with caution and both hands on the wheel.
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Story Image: Blades of tall grass can be seen swaying in the wind. (Courtesy of Pixabay.com)
The first sign of high wind triggering difficult travel is the implementation of wind advisories or high wind watches and warnings by the weather service. If traveling into unfamiliar territory, be advised that winds will accelerate more along straight roads not protected by trees, over bridges and overpasses and between hills.
Not only are large trucks, vans and buses more vulnerable to toppling over in high winds, but they can create significant ups and downs in wind speed that impact smaller cars in their vicinity. Drivers of these smaller vehicles will experience the same turbulence pilots do as they approach a runway on a windy day.
Similar to driving in a winter storm, maintain more than two car lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you on a windy day. This allows you extra time and space to swerve around debris that could fly onto the road and help you to avoid an accident made by any sudden moves from nearby vehicles.
High winds will make steering more of a challenge, so put down the cell phone or sandwich (if you eat while driving) and keep a firm grip of the wheel. Not only will you improve your gas mileage by driving slower in gusty winds, but you will have better control of your vehicle.
These are great reminders as the U.S. enters its traditionally windy season. The Front Range to northern Plains are approaching their traditionally windiest time of the year. Denver averages a wind speed of 10 mph in April. Bismarck, N.D., averages 11.5 mph wind in April and May. Phoenix is known for gusty winds in April and May but also in July with dust storms.
Farther east of the Mississippi River, Cincinnati is gusty in March with an average wind of 8 mph while the Big Apple has its strongest winds in late February and March with an average wind speed of 8.9 mph.
Keep WeatherBug active for the latest wind alerts and remember to drive in a wind storm how you would in a winter storm, with caution and both hands on the wheel.
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Story Image: Blades of tall grass can be seen swaying in the wind. (Courtesy of Pixabay.com)