At 1:19 p.m. on Thursday, the National Weather Service issued a weather notice for Rensselaer, Columbia, and Dutchess counties, warning of snow showers through 2 p.m.
“At 1:18 p.m., an area of moderate to heavy snow showers was along a line extending from near Stamford to near Falls Village and moving east at 20 MPH,” according to the National Weather Service.
The following places are affected by the alert: Berlin, Becket, Norfolk, Austerlitz, Otis, Canaan, Millerton, Sandisfield, Pittsfield, North Adams, Great Barrington, Adams, Williamstown, Lee, Lenox, Copake, Sheffield, Cheshire, Stephentown, New Lebanon, and so on.
The weather service states that “in winter weather conditions, conditions can deteriorate rapidly.” Be ready for roads blanketed in snow. To get to your destination, slow down and give yourself more time.
Navigating rainy roads: Safety tips for wet weather
There is a greater chance of floods and dangerous roadways when it rains a lot. The weather service has provided the following advice to help you keep safe during downpours:
Watch out for flooding rivers:
-
Do not play in or around culverts or drainage ditches as swiftly moving water that occurs during heavy rain can sweep you away.
Keep your distances from other vehicles safe:
-
Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.
Reduce your speed and exercise caution:
-
If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.
Pick your lane carefully:
-
Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.
Visibility is important.
-
Turn on your headlights.
-
Be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.
Be cautious on slick roads:
-
Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.
Stay a safe distance away from big cars:
-
Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.
Be mindful of your wipers:
-
Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas. If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers.
Taking these safety measures will significantly improve your road safety while it’s raining a lot. For a safe trip, keep yourself updated on weather conditions and follow local authorities’ instructions.
United Robots offers a service called Advance Local Weather Alerts that gathers the most recent information from the National Weather Service using machine learning.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
+ There are no comments
Add yours