Winter Service Plan - Forecasting, patrols, and other decision support information

4.1 Forecasting, patrols, and other decision support information

4.1.1 The support information for use in ‘Decision Making’ will usually be a combination of the Road Weather Forecast, Road and Weather Monitoring Data and Patrolling of the network.

4.1.2 Ayrshire Roads Alliance have contracted a Weather Service Provider to supply forecasts for the network each day over the period 1 October to 15 May.

4.1.3 The road weather forecasts are provided via a computer link to Ayrshire Roads Alliance during the normal working day or a portable computer to the Winter Controller out with normalhours.

4.1.4 Should any problems exist with the computer systems for obtaining the weather forecast alternative arrangements are in place.

4.1.5 Four Ice Detection Outstations are installed near Corwar, Dalmellington, Dunlop and Fenwick. In addition the Alliance has access to a further 7 outstations on the Trunk Road Network and access to information from the stations is available to the Winter Controllers.

4.1.6 The data available from the ice detection outstations, can be presented in both graphic and tabular format and includes:

a) Road surface temperature

b) Deep road temperature

c) Air temperature

d) Wind speed and direction

e) Relative humidity

f) Precipitation.

g) Surface state (including level of salt present on road surface)

4.1.7 The Weather Service Provider has direct access to the information from these outstations, which Improves the accuracy of their forecasts.

Contact information 

Phone: 01563 503 160

E-mail: enquiries@ayrshireroadsalliance.org

Address:  Ayrshire Roads Alliance, Opera House, 8 John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 1DD