Winter Travel Advisory Information
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Road Condition Definitions
The following are terms used when reporting information in the Thruway Winter Traveler Advisory System. There are three categories for reporting: road status, pavement conditions and weather conditions. These terms give general information and travel conditions for the reported segment.
Road Status Terms
- No Report: There is currently no reported road condition for the segment.
- Generally Clear and Dry Conditions: The entire length of the reporting segment appears clear and dry. There may be isolated stretches or spot locations that indicate snow, ice, slush or wet pavement.
- Wet Conditions: The segment is wet with liquid water from rain or fully melted snow.
- Snow and Ice Conditions: Within the segment wheel paths may be visible and there is snow, slush or ice on the pavement. This includes areas with wind-blown snow or icy spots.
- Severe Snow and Ice Conditions: Within the segment the pavement is not visible. There is snow, slush or ice build-up within the segment.
- Closed Portions: Within the reporting segment there are no lanes open in one or both directions for a portion of the segment. Report here when one direction only is closed or when a portion of the length of a segment is closed -- but not the whole segment.
Pavement Conditions Terms
- Wet: Within the segment there are isolated locations with liquid water present on the pavement.
- Flooded: Within the segment there are one or more locations with standing water on the pavement.
- Icy: Within the segment there are isolated locations with ice present on the pavement.
- Snow: Within the segment there is snow on the pavement that is being removed by the normal plowing operation.
Weather Condition Terms
- Fog: Within the segment there is fog present where visibility is affected.
- Dense Fog: Within the segment there is dense fog present where visibility is limited to less than one quarter.
- Poor Visibility: Any condition -- other than fog or darkness - that limits visibility to one quarter mile or less.
- Rain: Within the segment there are liquid water droplets falling that remain liquid on the pavement.
- Freezing Rain: Within the segment there are locations where rain is falling that freezes when hitting the pavement forming an ice glaze.
- Sleet: Within the segment there is precipitation falling consisting of pellets of ice.
- Blowing and Drifting Snow: Within the segment there are locations where previously fallen snow has been carried onto or across the pavement by the wind.
- Light Snow: Snow conditions where visibility within the segment exceeds one half mile or where the snowfall rate is less than one inch per hour.
- Heavy Snow: Snow conditions where visibility within the segment is limited to one quarter mile or where the snowfall rate exceeds one inch per hour.