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The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) in the US has begun testing a new wind warning system on Interstate-580 (I-580), where several accidents occur due to strong winds.

I-580 and sections of Alternate (Old) US 395 between Reno and Carson City usually experience high winds.

As part of the project to boost wind warning system, NDOT is testing white roadside signs.

Vehicles that are 9ft or taller, as well as recreational vehicles, are usually probhitied during high winds through the Washoe Valley.

The NDOT now has installed 34 new roadside signs that display flash during wind-related road closures as part of the system.

"We anticipate being able to reduce hours of wind-related closures by more than half."

Alerts on high winds are also posted through advisory radio stations, electronic highway variable message signs (VMS), and the 511 Nevada Travel Info system.

The warning system draws its information from the NDOT’s road weather information system units, which make use of anemometers and vanes to measure the speed and direction of winds, reported Traffictechnologytoday.com.

These messages are intended to stop large vehicles from travelling through the Washoe Valley during high winds.

NDOT engineering services manager Janelle Thomas was quoted by Kolo 8 as saying: "We have added additional white roadside signs, which flash to notify high-profile vehicle drivers when travel is prohibited through Washoe Valley due to high winds."

With the setting up of new wind speed thresholds for different roads, the department expects to cut down the number of closure hours due to high winds. The new system also constantly monitors speed of wind from five monitoring stations set up on roads.

NDOT District Engineer Thor Dyson was quoted by Traffictechnologytoday.com as saying: "By establishing different wind thresholds for each roadway through the valley, we anticipate being able to reduce hours of wind-related closures by more than half.

"And, with additional wind monitoring stations, we are continually monitoring wind conditions to help ensure the highest level of traveller safety."

Image: Accidents on I-580 and US 395 near Carson City, Nevada are mainly caused due to high winds. Photo: courtesy of akampfer via Wikipedia.