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Hi All:

Quick question regarding inclement weather when out on the road or trail… I mean way out on the road?

With weather available before most ride’s initiation whether from home, a hotel or the bush, I am sure most try and stay out of the worst of it by simply staying put and waiting it out before the start of the day’s adventure or finishing up early before the storm arrives.

What is your best course of action if you are simply caught out on the road w/little info since the last fuel stop and a heavy storm with T-Storm warnings, Tornado Watches or heaven forbid a Tornado Warning is in your path and you are caught unaware? Duck under an overpass as I have seen riders do from time to time? Pull into the nearest gas station or diner and wait it out there? Turn around and head a 90 degree direction from the storm front ahead?

I have been caught in hours and hours of moderate to heavy rain out East but for those riding across Tornado Alley for example, I can imagine this could be a somewhat “hair raising” experience let alone anyone that has been caught out in the T-Storm anywhere in the country while on the road or trail and far away from real shelter.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Aerostitch_Darien_Gear_in_the_rain.jpg
A lengthy ride from just north of the Lake Placid area to
the Canadian border and back in a drenching downpour
last summer…

Thanks in advance

Wayne

Hi All:

Pull into the nearest gas station or diner and wait it out there?......
Wayne

That's your winner right there. If there is no tornado shelter go into the walk-in cooler if things get hairy--their walls are stout enough to give you some protection from flying glass and debris.

I've heard that underpasses can funnel and increase wind speeds, so those might not be good unless you can hide way back in the bridge girders.

I've been stuck driving under twisty clouds with no shelter better than a ditch in sight for miles. Not a happy situation, I now make a point of listening to the radio as opposed to my own music.

Pull into a gas station, double back if good shelter is nearby, pull under a overpass if more rain than wind or hug a ditch if nothing else is available.

I live in metro NOLA, so I'm accustomed to heavy storms/lightening etc.
However the two worst thunder/lightening storms I was ever in were in the TX/OK panhandle.
One was July 2003 on Hy 287 about 150 miles East of Amarillo.
The other was July 2007 on I-40 near Weatherford,OK(think it is still OK not TX).

Hours of driving/blinding rain with absolutely explosive lightening, high winds-scary stuff and both areas are remote-maybe a town every 20-30 miles.

Your best bet:
1)Check the weather forecast that evening.
2) Start EARLY-4 am if possible, and plan to stop at 2 pm.
Most of the storms brew in the early afternoon and last until late in the evening.If you are on a motorcycle-try to get your riding day finished before 2 pm.
Early afternoon on is when these storms usually begin in the panhandle area-and probably in all of tornado alley. Earth takes a while to heat up, rising air etc


Yeah, check the forecast, leave very early, stop in early afternoon if you are on a motorcycle. The problem with stopping under a overpass is FINDING ONE. There just aren't that many overpasses in those remote areas. I would certainly take a chance under one to dodge lightening/driving rain. Yes, maybe they are not great during tornadoes, but I might try to squirrel myself in one anyway. You might find a way to get protection for maybe 180 degrees as opposed to being exposed to flying debris from 360 degrees.

Charlie