Abstract
Motorists traveling on Interstate highways are likely to have an increased vulnerability to weather hazards due to their unfamiliarity with nearby towns, limited methods to receive short-term weather information, and a general deficiency of a suitable shelter. To assess the threat, a database of 678 tornadoes, crossing primary and auxiliary Interstates across portions of the central and southeastern contiguous United States, was compiled for the period of 1990 to 2008. Approximately 17% of Interstate-crossing tornadoes impacted vehicles. Factors such as time of the day, EF-Scale rating, and travel density were examined to assess potential association with the probability of a tornado impact. This paper discusses current warning and preparedness activities in the operational meteorological community and state transportation departments, and recommends future actions and new technology to mitigate the loss of life and property from tornadoes that cross Interstate highways.
Highlights
The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the National Weather Service
Occurrences of vehicles/people impacted by Interstate tornadoes
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Summary
NOAA / National Weather Service, Topeka, Kansas Quantify the frequency of tornadoes crossing Interstates in “Tornado Alley” Occurrences of vehicles/people impacted by Interstate tornadoes What can be done to improve message/services to travelers Motorists on Interstates have increased vulnerability to weather hazards!
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