keeping up with weather warnings while on the road?
Jun 13, 2008, 10:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,754
keeping up with weather warnings while on the road?
The tornados and floods in the Midwest right now have me thinking about how people on the move get necessary info on severe weather. Later this summer we plan to drive cross country, complete with U-haul truck, when we move, and I would prefer to avoid (or wait out) certain weather conditions or major highway problems, like washed out bridges.
How do folks get weather info and road conditions 300 miles in advance when you're driving? Obviously continuous internet access isn't an option on interstate highways. Do any of the GPS systems offer weather alerts? If your route is entered into the system, will a GPS system pick up road conditions far enough in advance for you to make a major detour?
How do folks get weather info and road conditions 300 miles in advance when you're driving? Obviously continuous internet access isn't an option on interstate highways. Do any of the GPS systems offer weather alerts? If your route is entered into the system, will a GPS system pick up road conditions far enough in advance for you to make a major detour?
Jun 14, 2008, 3:32 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: FRA
Programs: Marriott Silver
Posts: 490
Probably the old fashioned way... trusty AM radio and/or Weather Radio if the car is capable of receiving it. Stopping and asking whenever stopping at rest points or for gas, etc.
Most importantly, always keeping a good map so you can find your way once you get lost on that detour.
Whenever weather affects me on a road trip I also try to have a friend keep track of the weather on the internet and call me with updates.
Most importantly, always keeping a good map so you can find your way once you get lost on that detour.
Whenever weather affects me on a road trip I also try to have a friend keep track of the weather on the internet and call me with updates.
Jun 15, 2008, 9:38 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,754
Jun 15, 2008, 9:43 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 99654
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,450
you could get some of those news and/or weather websites to text you
the weather reports for the cities/states on your way on a daily basis.
Tuning into a local FM/AM station is not bad either.
NPR is also a good option. check out www.npr.com, they have
tools to map out the stations on your route.
the weather reports for the cities/states on your way on a daily basis.
Tuning into a local FM/AM station is not bad either.
NPR is also a good option. check out www.npr.com, they have
tools to map out the stations on your route.
Jun 20, 2008, 7:25 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA USA
Posts: 692
I'm sure there are cheaper brands of this product, but it's the first sample I found:
http://www.weathershack.com/oregon-s...fic/wr601.html
You don't really need one with SAME capability for this specific task since you don't want to have to program it for all the counties you'll drive through. You just want to get alerts for any WX station you can receive, in your case.
http://www.weathershack.com/oregon-s...fic/wr601.html
You don't really need one with SAME capability for this specific task since you don't want to have to program it for all the counties you'll drive through. You just want to get alerts for any WX station you can receive, in your case.
Jun 20, 2008, 1:33 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Bryn Mawr PA & Wailea HI
Posts: 15,726
Take a laptop as almost every Days Inn, Choice Inn, Courtyard, Panera Bakery etc has free wifi assessable from their parking lot or lobby. Almost every interstate exit of these at each exit. I often do it. See www.jiwire.com for free and pay wifi locations worldwide. Good luck.
MisterNice
MisterNice
Jun 20, 2008, 9:14 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Um lugar muito bonito
Programs: UA GS, UA 2-Million Miler, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, HHonours Diamond, Marriott Plat, EVA Gold
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Take a laptop as almost every Days Inn, Choice Inn, Courtyard, Panera Bakery etc has free wifi assessable from their parking lot or lobby. Almost every interstate exit of these at each exit. I often do it. See www.jiwire.com for free and pay wifi locations worldwide. Good luck.
MisterNice
MisterNice
If you're really concerned, very compact NOAA weather radios are available, as already mentioned. Even if your phone is not Internet-ready, many weather sites and local TV stations also offer a service that will deliver alerts via text message, which most mobile phones should be able to receive.
Be careful out there.