Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

As fall is in the air in most of the country, so are the signs of the second severe weather season. Although it is not as long as the spring season, it is just as deadly. When fall approaches the country we start to see a shift in the jet stream that has great influence over our weather in this country. The jet stream takes a shot up into Canada and then runs back down to the Gulf of Mexico. As it does this it brings with it the cooler air from Canada and pushes it into the warm, moist gulf stream air that permeates the south. As you know when cool air and warm, moist air meet, the warm air is pushed up above the cold air causing storm clouds to build and the formula for severe weather is set in motion.

There are conditions forming as I write this, that are developing across the mid west and the deep south. as this cold front pushes to the east, severe weather is occurring along the front. Nine reports of tornado’s have been reported as of Wednesday evening from Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas and Louisiana. This trend will continue across the mid west and the south east through Thursday bringing locally heavy rain and damaging wind, plus hail up to golf ball size. This is not the only month that we can expect severe weather in the fall. November can be a little rough also. Case in point?

Huntsville Alabama, November 15th 1989. At approximately 4:30 P.M. a F-4 tornado hit Huntsville as rush hour was getting started. It killed 21 people and injured many more. The day was muggy and warm. Too warm for mid November. A line of storms were approaching from the west and there were watches issued but the radar missed this one and the warning did not go out until after the funnel was already on the ground. Later that night, after a day that saw temperatures in the mid seventies, it was snowing as rescue workers dug through the rubble looking for survivors.

What can you do?

As a truck driver you can get a weather radio for your truck or buy a C.B. radio that has one built in. That way when you see the weather might be changing for the worse, you can stay informed. Do you have a lap top in your cab? There are some great weather sites that are updated constantly as conditions change. I’m sure we all know Weather.com right? As an amateur radio operator trained in severe weather spotting by the National Weather Service, I use the National Skywarn site every-time there is bad weather approaching. This site has a severe weather prediction map on the main page with the National radar superimposed on it so you can see whats going on and what is expected at a glance. Last on the list that I use regular is Weather underground. This site has controls for the radar view that can show you the velocity data or the speed and direction of the wind blown rain in the storm. Its nexrad Doppler and you can pick the radar site nearest where your truck is located. Remember to keep your cell phone charged and batteries in your flashlights. Its also a good idea to keep a first aid kit in our truck. most of all, stay smart. If you have severe weather approaching, find a safe place to stop and seek shelter. No freight is worth you life or the lives of anyone else on the road.

Stay safe out there and keep you eyes on the road and the sky this weekend.