Late Thursday afternoon, moderate snow led to multiple crashes and trucks/cars sliding off I-90. As a result, the pass was closed for several hours, allowing the removal of vehicles and letting the WSDOT plows improve the drivability of the roadway.
Now, here is my frustration.
The snow was foreseeable. Weather information is so good now that we can warn folks in real time of the approaching snow band so that they can slow down!
The key modeling tool is the NOAA/NWS HRRR model, which runs at high resolution EVERY HOUR.
The 11-h snow forecast for 3-4 PM snow below. Snow around the pass!
You get the idea....snow was predicted on the western side of the Cascades and the Cascade passes well ahead of time.
In real time, the weather radar showed the snow falling at 4:30 PM.
A few years ago, I offered to build a system for WSDOT that would provide state-of-the-art prediction of snow in the pass with real-time updates provided by weather radar, satellite imagery, and other weather assets.
This real-time snow guidance could be used to update reader boards on the side of the highway.
The goal was to stop the snow closures and keep folks safe. Unfortunately, they were not interested.
Another example of valuable information available from meteorologists not being used effectively by society.
A few years ago, wasn't it the official position of WA State that there would be less snow in the mountains – implying safer mountain passes. A proposal to DOT that emphasized Climate Change and more snow might have worked. Or might have gotten you branded as a global warming denier. {I recommend a tunnel. The Europeans seem to have the knowledge.}
ReplyDeleteThere's a name for that sort of thing. It's call mass formation psychosis. Also explains the reaction to COVID.
DeleteTrying too hard.
DeleteSome people drive too fast for all conditions. Tailgating leaves no margin for error. Most vehicles have outside temperature readings, so the potential for icy roads can be identified. SLOW DOWN on icy conditions or rainy conditions.
DeleteA tunnel from Ellensburg to Seattle would be a mighty expensive proposition. It might be more cost effective to convince drivers of Ford Explorers, RAM 4x4s, Range Rovers, BMWs, and Teslas to quit their habit of driving at 80 miles per hour when it is snowing over the passes.
ReplyDeleteBetter enforcement of the variable speed limits would go a long way towards reducing closures. WSDOT can do everything perfectly, but if drivers don’t exercise good judgment, road closing accidents are inevitable.
ReplyDeleteThe problem here isn’t with WSDOT, it’s a people problem. The best information system in the world won’t get the crazies to slow down. You know, the people who say that they’re more worried about “others” when it snows, that they themselves are expert snow drivers.
ReplyDeleteI'd bet that the problems happened within the variable speed zones.
ReplyDeleteA big rig that goes sideways probably only had all season tires or chains as options.
Passenger vehicles might be driving past with summer tires, all season tires, winter tires, or studded winter tires, before needing to add chains. Then there's the possibility of all wheel drive.
The differences in speed between different vehicles causes significant issues, not least of which is frustration of the prepared by the unprepared. Even when the speed limit is reduced, some people will be driving 20mph over while some will be 20mph under,
I drive over snoqualmie weekly— it’s the DRIVERS not familiar with winter conditions and have 4WD or AWD that think they can still go 70 (or more) in snowy, slush, or even icy weather! And when the weather is clear and dry people are pushing 90 mph—people ignore speed limits on the pass. Sometimes the big semis too—they completely ignore the 65 speed limit for them and they FLY on the highway. Need more patrol to write more tickets or put up speed cameras for automatic ticketing—hitting people in their wallets is the only way they’re gonna slow down. Snow management on the pass is excellent—better than it was 10-20 years ago. Since the removal of the snow shed and redesign, it’s rarely been closed for avalanche conditions. Heck I’ve “broke trail” going over the pass in a front wheel drive car, but going 25-30 mph, then had a couple big SUV’s and truck go zooming past—-I caught up to them eventually as one was on its side and the other 2 spun out. If the roads are bad SLOW DOWN! WDOT has often made statements when shutting down the pass, that’s it’s because of the drivers not slowing down, not the conditions itself. Also if you’re driving on “All Season” tires….those really are only 3 season tires, you still need studded or winter tires rated for snow and ice.
ReplyDeletePerhaps holding drivers responsible for the time lost when they cause a pass closure might help- but probably not. From what I see, it's trucks who refuse to chain up when they should, which is anytime snow tires are required on passenger vehicles. A spun out or crashed truck has much more impact on the pass than a passenger vehicle.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a mindset issue. With the days getting longer people don’t expect there to be big snow events in March. They’re thinking it’s spring time and have put away the chain’s because they assume the snow and ice is done for the season.
ReplyDelete