Freight Corridor Weather Alerts
Browse active severe and extreme weather alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service, including high wind, winter storm and flood warnings, and filter them by state, county or highway name.
NOAA National Weather Service
Active NOAA advisories: 0 warnings detected, most severe first
NOAA NWS operational feed, updated recently
Connecting to NOAA National Weather Service alerts…
Commercial Driving High-Wind & Mountain Pass Protocols
Federal FMCSA accident reconstructions identify crosswinds over 45 MPH as the leading contributor to empty 53-foot dry van rollovers. High-profile trailers present approximately 500 square feet of sail area to lateral gusts.
- Empty Van Blowout Risks
- When carrying under 10,000 lbs of payload, drivers encountering gusts above 50 MPH (frequent on I-80 WY and I-25 CO) should immediately park into the wind or seek designated rest area staging.
- Mandatory Chain Control Laws
- Chain requirements and penalties are set by each state’s DOT; check the state’s chain-control page for the current rules and fines.
Frequently Asked Questions About Highway Weather Hazards & Blowout Risks
- At what wind speed are commercial semi-trailers at risk of tipping over?
- Empty or lightly loaded (under 10,000 lbs) 53-foot dry vans face severe rollover risk in crosswind gusts exceeding 40 to 45 MPH due to 500 square feet of surface sail area. Drivers encountering severe wind warnings are advised to seek safe staging.
- Where are mandatory commercial truck chain laws enforced?
- Chain requirements and penalties are set by each state’s DOT; check the state’s chain-control page for the current rules and fines. Mountain passes such as I-80 Donner Pass (CA), I-70 Vail Pass (CO) and I-90 Snoqualmie Pass (WA) are corridors where winter chain requirements are commonly posted.
- Does standard cargo insurance cover temperature breakdown during winter storms?
- Standard motor truck cargo policies often exclude reefer mechanical breakdown or delay-induced freezing. Specialized refrigerated cargo policies provide broad-form coverage protecting perishable loads against extreme winter freezing and transit delays.