ATWIS - Advanced Transportation Weather Information System

The Advanced Transportation Weather Information project began in 1996 to provide route-specific short range weather and road conditions to the traveling public and commercial vehicle operations in an effort to achieve a safer transportation system.

Cellular and wireless phone users dial #7233 (#SAFE) along any Interstate, US, or state highway within North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

#SAFE presently provides around the clock reports accessible on over 27,000 road miles across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. The map below details the Interstates, state and US highways within these three states where #SAFE reports.



After answering 4 questions detailing their location and direction of travel, the caller is provided a road condition report and short-range weather forecast. The computer system constructs an envelope around the caller's vehicle extending 40 to 60 miles (or 1 to 1 1/2 hours travel time) ahead in their direction of travel. A weather and road condition report is issued for this road segment to the caller using interactive voice technologies. The phone call takes an average of 1 1/2 minutes.

An example of a typical call follows:

#SAFE: Welcome to the #SAFE traveler information system. For North Dakota highways press 1, for South Dakota highways press 2, for Minnesota highways press 3.	Traveler: Presses 2 for South Dakota
#SAFE: Enter the highway number followed by the pound sign (#)	Traveler: Presses 34 for South Dakota State Highway 34.	NOTE: SD State Highway is an East/West Route
#SAFE: For eastbound travelers press 1, for westbound travelers press 2	Traveler: Presses 2 for westbound travel.
#SAFE: Enter the mile marker or exit number followed by the pound sign (#)	Traveler: Presses 256 for mile marker 256, followed by the pound sign(#)	NOTE: The #SAFE computer constructs an envelope around the caller's location 40 to 60 miles (or 1 to 1 1/2 hours travel time) ahead of their reported location (the highway and mile marker provided by the traveler) and constructs a report. This report provides a route-specific road condition report and weather forecast that they may expect ahead along the route.
#SAFE: This road condition and weather forecast report is sponsored in part by the South Dakota Department of Transportation. For travelers on South Dakota State Highway 34 westbound from mile marker 256 traveling toward Pierre. Traffic speeds are reduced due to poor road conditions. Roadway is covered with patches of ice. Actual road conditions may vary from this report, motorists are cautioned to be alert to changing conditions. The forecast until 4:00 o'clock central time this Friday afternoon: Skies will be mostly cloudy becoming overcast. Visibility will be 5 miles changing to 2 miles. There will be occasional very light snow ending by 4:00 o'clock central time. Wind will be 9 MPH from the north changing to 3 MPH from the northeast. Temperatures will range from 21 to 25 degrees increasing to 25 to 27 degrees. To repeat the last message press 1. To begin a new information search press 2. If you have a question or comment about this system press 8. To end this call press 9 or hang-up.