Road surroundings significantly influence temperatures on road surfaces and even individual lanes

The forecasting of road surface conditions is an important part of road safety and efficient road management. The road weather model developed at the Finnish Meteorological Institute produces advanced temperature and weather forecasts of prevailing road conditions, to assist with road maintenance and the provision of weather warnings.

Photo: Juha Tuomi.

The road weather model has now been improved to take a road’s surroundings into account. In the best cases, focusing on a road’s surroundings can significantly improve the accuracy of road surface temperature forecasts.

The study even recorded significant differences between lanes, for example when a rock cutting shadowed the southern side of a road.

Further information:

Researcher Virve Karsisto, Finnish Meteorological Institute, tel. +358 50 496 4647, virve.karsisto@fmi.fi Scientific article is available on Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. Reference: Karsisto, V., and Horttanainen, M. (2022). Sky View Factor and Screening Impacts on the Forecast Accuracy of Road Surface Temperatures in Finland. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 62(2), 121-138, available from: https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-22-0026.1

Science-newsResearchRoad weather