Weather Advisory

Get a smartphone with a weather alert app. Unfortunately, high winds are not always easy to predict.. like tornados.

On my trip to the midwest last fall, I would check every morning, and if things looked, ok, I proceeded. The phone is for that unexpected stuff.

We don't go anywhere without our WX ALERT radios... They sound off the alert tones when bad weather is in the area. Mine are Radio Shack version but there are many different models on the market to chose from.


Mine is mounted inside the trailer and powered by 12VDC using one of those step down DC adapters. It runs off a 9VDC internal battery which I removed and run off of the external DC connector stepped down to 9VDC. It is always ON...

The high end WX RADIOS have setting for specific areas which would not work well if you are moving around the country alot. I like the more SIMPLE VERSION WX Radio that picks up everything.

There is probably a CELL PHONE app for this as well. Never looked into that

ADDED NOTE: My 2010 Truck came with SIRIUS RADIO and it has been outstanding for following bad weather when in travel mode. Lots of tools to use to keep safe.

Roy Ken

Heck even a lot of fRS radios have built in weather radios direct from the NWS. Lots cheaper and multi purpose instend of the uni tasker weather radios some like.

Wind speed & direction forecast -
http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/conus.php?element=WindSpd
Clicky
Has different forecasts for 8am, 11am, 2pm & 5pm.

It won't keep you away from tornadoes but way better than sticking a wet finger in the air.

Best,
- bob

First relax, a loaded 45'DP is not going to turn over in a 50 mph cross wind... it weighs too much. The trucks you see on their sides are empty and a FW camper is much lighter than a DP but it has much the same sail area and a higher center of gravity. When you have more than 45 degrees of steering input to keep it going straight, it's time to find a parking place. Yes, I've traveled with that much steering input from straight but I did not pull over. In another 10 miles it was going to be a tail wind.

My CB has weather channels on it so I can listen to local forecasts and advisories for the area I'm in. Last summer I was able to shoot the smal gap between two hot, black thunder storms areas on either side of I-80 using this phone app instead of pulling over early and hunkering down to let the storms pass over me. I also use it as a navigation help as the sat base map is that good and it shows my movement. Worth the small onetime cost to purchase.

I use this NOAA site for weather info reported from airports. I also use it to find small airports where I'll "tie down" instead of using a WalMart. Usually gets a laugh when I ask "how much to tie down" followed by "I did not hear you land" and I've never been charged. Should have taken a video of the DHL employees catching most of the packages thrown from the airplane.

http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/southplains.php

Scroll over "Wind speed/direction" and/or "wind gust".

You can change area and/or change time by day parts for the next week.

On a trip from Topeka to Texas a month ago, I used a weather radar app on my iPhone. I opened the app, hit the arrow for "my location", and then hit the button for animation. I could see when one of those big ol T-storms was going to cross my path, and we would pull over until it passed. This was the week that they had all of those nasty tornados.

Also - be very very very very careful crossing western New Mexico and Arizona on I-40. The winds get so bad there (on a clear day) that they have to close the interstate. My friend had a 30 ft toy hauler flip over and take her TV - which rolled three times - while going 35 mph down I-40 westbound. Both vehicles totaled but luckily no one hurt.

Our in dash radio has a weather station built in, automatically picks up your location at the time you turn it on. I like it a lot..

2oldman wrote:
Get a smartphone with a weather alert app. Unfortunately, high winds are not always easy to predict.. like tornados.

On my trip to the midwest last fall, I would check every morning, and if things looked, ok, I proceeded. The phone is for that unexpected stuff.

X-2, on the smart phone, I just bought a Apple OS-6 I-Phone last month and enjoy the weather alert on it. The phone also let me know of a Amber Alert in my area recently and I never downloaded a application for that.

iPhone has alerts. Those camping radios...many have alerts on specific channel. Get a portable and crank radio for emergencies...they have the alerts, CB radios, and watch the large trucks on the road. We were in Tennessee and suddenly the road got nearly empty. Tuned in to local channel and storm alert. We got off and parked next to a law officer and bought him lunch. Figure if he left, we would leave. He was thankful and offered suggestions and we were grateful and lunch was well worth it!