ADOT, National Weather Service partner to improve storm response

PHOENIX — During Arizona’s record-setting winter storm last week, two agencies worked together to provide information to staff and the public.

Now, the Arizona Department of Transportation and the National Weather Service want this collaboration to continue.

According to a press release, the weather service will station a meteorologist at ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center whenever the next big storm hits.

“We were talking about how we could work together to prepare for storms, and get the best information to drivers as quickly as possible, and the idea of collaborating just fell into place,” NWS Phoenix meteorologist Ken Waters said in the release.

WEATHER PARTNERSHIP

A new collaboration between ADOT and the National Weather Service has grown out of the recent storm. A meteorologist will be stationed at ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center when significant storms threaten. https://t.co/7QWajLXdAL pic.twitter.com/fDS0Q7EyTe

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) February 25, 2019

The partnership will allow ADOT to better determine where snowplows and other resources are needed most and which roads drivers need to avoid.

“This is a natural pairing of two agencies working together in the public’s interest,” Brent Cain, director of ADOT’s Transportation Systems Management and Operations Division said in the release.

“This will allow us to get information quickly about approaching weather so we can prepare to clear roads and advise the public even before the storms arrive.”

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