NowCasting

When the forecasting of road surface temperature and ice formation is improved, it becomes possible to improve winter road maintenance processes. To this end, Vaisala has developed an automated road ice NowCasting model. This model incorporates the Vaisala IceBreak heat-balance model, which dispenses with the need for human intervention. As a result, Vaisala is able to provide 3-hour NowCasting of surface temperature and state for specific weather station locations. This is particularly valuable for monitoring potential weather hazards and mobilizing resources in time to take effective preventive action.

IceBreak is the world's most popular ice prediction model, used by more than 10 national meteorological services to deliver forecasts to road and airport authorities. Vaisala has used the NowCasting model in many different places around the world. Analysis has shown that performance is consistently good.