Weather Advisory

[Brazen]

I am planning my first cross country road trip when I get my 45' Class A Diesel Pusher. I've seen youtube videos and caught on camera episodes where big rigs and huge fifth wheels have tipped over because of high winds. Could any of you please tell me the best way to check for bad weather and high winds and also how often I should be checking?

Thanks in advance to all that respond,

[tyaughton]

we discovered the app "weather bug" last year. very good app

[2gypsies1]

I wouldn't worry about winds. Heading west you'll mainly be heading into the winds - sometimes. It will lower your fuel mileage. If you're lucky on your return - you'll have tail winds - mighty nice. 🙂 Tornado-type winds are a different story. Just monitor as you drive.

[wa8yxm]

Since there is no single technology that you can not be "Out of range of" I recommend a multi-faceted approach

The weather radio is a good one.. Epically if your radio is battery operated and has an EXTERNAL antenna connection.. And you have an external antenna.. I have a pocket unit and often my other VHF radios pick up NOAA clearly when it does not.

Next is weather apps for your smart phone... Go to the app/play store and search on NOAA.. NOTE M-Ping (A NOAA app) is so you can tell NOAA about bad weather.. They have Radar apps.. ALert apps and more.. My phone sounds like Big a symphony of ring tones when bad weather threatens.

Finally: http://radar.weather.gov/ridge/Conus/index.php

Visit daily.

[John_S_]

I love that people post about flipping over. IT is going to be a heck of a storm or you are going way too fast for conditions. Tornados, all bets are off but straight line winds are not going to push over a DP. An empty trailer is fair game and even a toy hauler is not very heavy but the DPs of today, especially the bigger ones are well over 40K and the weight is low.

I use the weather app on my phone and it sends me high wind warnings and thunder storm warnings for my location no matter where I am. I have to have a signal though but that is not usually an issue as weather is pretty widespread.

Now you can also slow down a bit in high cross winds and make it easier driving too. You should expect higher cross winds in the afternoon then in the mornings or the evening.

[dubdub07]

Ivylog wrote:
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.

This is so true. I have been in 50+ in my 42 footer and it won't even sway much. Awnings make a heck of a noise, though. DPs are notoriously good in the wind.

WW

[SCVJeff]

J-Rooster wrote:

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.

Amber Alerts on cellphones these days are incorporated into the chipset and have nothing to do with any of the weather apps. The stock Apple Wx app is just OK. There are MANY out there way better and will tell you of thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and a pile of other things either in the area or heading your way.

Take a look at: STORM & Wx Radio.
I have MANY more running in the background, but these should be essential when relying on a Smartphone for your alerts

[robertbenita]

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!

[J-Rooster]

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.

[mfitz709]

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..

[dvitale300]

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.

[wolfe10]

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.

[Ivylog]

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.

[cbr46]

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

[donn0128]

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.