Michigan is currently experiencing an extended snowstorm, with snowfall nearly constant for nearly a week. Multiple winter weather advisories and an extreme cold watch are in place for the weekend. Driving in this kind of weather can be harrowing, but it isn’t often that the National Weather Service (NWS) issues a ‘Travel Not Recommended’ warning to drivers , which is exactly what it did on Monday.
Download the WGRD Mobile App Now
The NWS ended up nailing that one on the head , as a 100-car crash occurred just outside Grand Rapids, proving conditions were far too dangerous to drive in. But what kind of power does a statement of this kind from the NWS have?
We spoke to meteorologist Jim Maczko with the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids to get a better idea of what a “travel not recommended” is.
Hi Jim, on Monday, the NWS issued a “Do Not Travel” warning. Can you explain what that is?
Jim: Yes, so there was a bit of confusion online about that. The NWS does not have a “Do Not Travel” warning. What we announced on Monday was a “Travel Not Recommended” statement advising drivers that, given current weather conditions, travel was not recommended.
Thank you for clearing that up. When the NWS issues a “Travel Not Recommended” warning, what kind of power does that hold? Could a worker use these as a valid reason not to go into work?
Jim: No, the NWS “Travel Not Recommended” warning is nothing more than just a statement from the weather service, not a “doctor’s note” for employers. NWS employees have to be present even when the weather is like this; what your employer does with the advisory is up to them. The advisory is just a warning for would-be travelers that all non-essential travel should be ignored. …