Internet Technology Makes For Safer Commuting During Storm

Just like weather in Colorado can vastly vary, Peg Richardson of the Colorado Springs street division knows a short drive from monument to downtown Colorado Springs can throw just as many surprises at drivers,

“From quadrant to quadrant the weather can differ from snow and ice to sunny and beautiful.”

With technology on your side, you may not be able to outsmart mother nature, but you can at least get in sync with her.

Richardson says the Road Weather Information System lets you monitor sections of the city from your computer, “Based upon the fact the city of Colorado Springs differs significantly in weather conditions from one quadrant of the city to another it’s a very useful tool for individuals, for cities to be able to pull this up.”

Each of the seven monitoring stations has several different devices, which give input. The first is like a hockey puck, which is embedded into the concrete. Next to it is a large tower, which measures wind speed, then there’s also a camera which shows visibility from all angles, below that is a unit which measures temperatures then every 10 to 15 minutes all of this is updated on your computer.

” If they’re going from the northwest quadrant of the city to the southeast to find out if a storm is hit, how bad is that storm, it will give you an idea if it’s snowing, if it’s wet, icy, as well as the amount of accumulation, the temperature, if it’s freezing, that’s taking place in that area also.”

Says Richardson.

The website can look a bit overwhelming, but the most important information road conditions and visibility, is highlighted and user friendly.

To visit the website click here http://tinymce.moxiecode.cp/mce_temp_url

The Springs Street Division also has a hotline for drivers to call and talk to an actual dispatcher: 719-385-5934