What’s causing repeated floods in Pacific Northwest?

Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) stacking sandbags to hold back floodwater in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

It was an extremely wet November in parts of the Pacific Northwest, causing major flooding on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border.

The latest storm system to hit the region triggered new evacuation orders and at least one mudslide in flood-ravaged British Columbia, Canada, late Sunday.

On the same day, flood sirens sounded in Washington as the Nooksack River overflowed. Henry Braun, mayor of Abbotsford, British Columbia, told reporters the water flow was headed toward the Canadian border city...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/whats-causing-repeated-floods-in-pacific-northwest

What does La Nina mean for truckers this winter?

Tractor-trailers in rain and snow.

A La Nina climate pattern is emerging for the second consecutive winter in the U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC).

For carriers, this means their drivers may have to deal with a high number of delays in the Northwest and Great Lakes. Impacts would spread to shippers and customers.

Related: 5 states with toughest chain laws for truckers

During La Nina, strong trade winds push more warm Pacific water toward Asia. This produces...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/what-does-la-nina-mean-for-truckers-this-winter

Truckers who died helping accident victims named Highway Angels

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has posthumously recognized Adam “Troy” Miller, 53, of Hagerstown, Maryland, and Ashish Patel, 46, of Ontario, Canada, as Highway Angels for stopping to help at the scene of a serious accident last summer.

“He would do anything for anybody.” — Julie Miller, about her husband, Troy Miller, a trucker who died while helping car accident victims.

According to an article by the Transportation Nation Network, the fatal incident happened the morning of July 1 on...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truckers-who-died-helping-accident-victims-named-highway-angels

Potential flooding rain could delay truckers in South

Tractor-trailers in heavy rain.

Torrential rain will continue to drench the South this week, potentially slowing down freight flows through one of the nation’s busiest markets.

Some parts of the region have already been hit with 5 inches or more of rain over the past few days, with 3 to 6 inches of additional rain possible over the next two days. Isolated amounts of up to 8 inches are possible.

(Map: FreightWaves SONAR Critical Events and radar, Oct. 6, 2021, 8 a.m. ET. To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here.)

An...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/potential-flooding-rain-could-delay-truckers-in-south

Soaking storms for weekend truckers across South

Flatbed tractor-trailer heading down highway with dark thunderstorm cloud across the sky.

As if parts of the South haven’t had enough rain this spring, more is on the way this weekend. Flash flooding has been an unfortunate fact of life, and the risk may linger into next week in some places.

Showers and thunderstorms will linger on the Gulf and East coasts Friday as a frontal system stalls across these regions. Heavy rain could drench areas from southern New England to Florida to Texas. The National Weather Service (NWS) has a flash flood watch posted for eastern North Carolina and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/soaking-storms-for-weekend-truckers-across-south

Accelerating road condition forecasting to know what’s ahead

Storm cloud across the sky with vehicle light streaking along the horizon.

There are more than 5.8 million vehicle crashes each year in the United States. About 21% of these crashes — more than 1.23 million — are weather-related, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says the estimated cost of weather-related delays to trucking companies ranges from $2.2 billion to $3.5 billion annually.

Improving road condition forecasting could not only save lives but also could help the bottom line of the vital...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/accelerating-road-condition-forecasting-to-know-whats-ahead

Flood threat persists for truckers in Deep South

Tractor-trailer pulled over in the rain on the side of a highway.

Flooding: Westhaven Subdivision in Baton Rouge@NWSNewOrleans pic.twitter.com/U2fiookWPZ

— Jesse Gunkel (@JesseGunkel) May 20, 2021

The threat for more slow-moving thunderstorms and repeated downpours to end the week is looming over parts of the Deep South.

Lake Charles, Louisiana, had a daily record 12.49 inches of rain Monday, which became the third-wettest day in the city’s history. Major flooding prompted water rescues, and Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a state of emergency. Lafayette and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/flood-threat-persists-for-truckers-in-deep-south

Soaking rain for truckers in South

Flatbed tractor-trailer heading down road on a rainy day.

When it rains it pours, especially in the South on many spring days. Lately, it’s been the Deep South and Gulf Coast getting drenched, resulting in flash flooding and water rescues in Birmingham, Alabama, last week.

Related: Flood threat not drying up across Deep South

New Orleans International Airport (ICAO code: MSY) received a daily record 4.1 inches of rain Monday, with downpours in other parts of the region. The old record was 2.43 inches in 1995. The pattern probably won’t dry up until late...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/soaking-rain-for-truckers-in-south

Flood threat lingers for truckers in Deep South

Tractor-trailers heading down a highway in the rain.

It’s been a wet week across much of the Deep South and parts of the Gulf Coast, with more rain to come.

New Orleans had a daily record rainfall Tuesday of 3.71 inches, along with a peak wind gust of 56 mph, as strong to severe thunderstorms slammed the region. Flash flooding hit southern Louisiana, and weather likely had a lot to do with a commercial vessel capsizing off the Louisiana coast Tuesday.

Related: News alert: Coast Guard searching for crew of capsized commercial vessel

The Coast Guard...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/flood-threat-lingers-for-truckers-in-deep-south

Veteran trucker invents state-of-the-art, lighted safety flap

Tractor-trailer parked on a foggy day.

Inventor, businessman and veteran truck driver Tim Adams has been tinkering with ideas for inventions much of his life. Now in his early 60s, he believes he has a product that could revolutionize trucking. It’s a one-of-a-kind mud flap for tractor-trailers, one which Adams believes can reduce accidents and save lives.

“I drive for a living, and I’ve been out there,” Adams, from Novato, California, told FreightWaves. “I know what it can do to help everybody on the highway.”

We Care Safety Flaps...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/veteran-trucker-invents-state-of-the-art-lighted-safety-flap