Keeping the roads open during bad weather is critical for those managing the road networks.

With the variable weather the UK faces this can be a challenge during both summer and winter.

OpenRoad on the web is an online weather forecasting package that is designed to help minimise the effects of weather on the roads. By providing all your key road weather information in a clear format, it enables road decision-makers to do their jobs more easily, more cost-effectively and with greater confidence.

Changing weather conditions

Clean, intuitive visualisation means you can find information easily and make faster decisions, something which is vital during changing weather conditions.

The summary page helps you to quickly identify hazards across your network. You can then zoom in to see the details for your region, hour-by-hour, overlaying weather animations and monitoring sensor observations.

The service includes:

• Information delivered via a password-protected web site, fax and email, or a modem link to your ice-prediction system or road weather information service (RWIS).
• 24-hour text forecasts by single area, climatic domain, or by route to identify relevant factors.
• Direct access to forecasters
• 2 to 5 day forecasts, covering a range of weather parameters 
• Evening updates and morning summaries
• Site-specific ice-prediction graphs
• Rainfall and flood warnings
• Year-on-year comparisons
• Legal consultancy
• Training courses for key staff

Benefits:

• Monitor your area using detailed segment graphs or written summaries.
• Build up a picture of the weather on your map using selectable layers.
• See the same high-resolution radar and satellite imagery as your forecaster.
• Instant real-time access to all of the information you need.
• View relevant level of detail with interactive maps.
• Plan further ahead with a 36-hour forecast, now updated every six hours.
• Easy access to key information with enhanced speed and resilience

Enhance your decision making with OpenRoad on the web OpenRoad datahsheet (PDF, 382 kB)

For more information about how we can help, please email us: openroad@metoffice.gov.uk.