Intelligent Weather Monitoring: Road Meteo Systems Operate Year-Round
The ongoing expansion of the Czech Republic’s highway and road network places high demands on the modernization and extension of supporting technological systems. In response, we are expanding the network of roadside weather stations, integrating them into the national meteorological information system. These efforts also include advanced thermal mapping of road surfaces and data-driven evaluation of winter maintenance efficiency.
Keeping Pace with the Development of Road Infrastructure
Today, roadside weather stations form an integral part of a comprehensive system for monitoring road conditions. During the winter season, they focus primarily on detecting and predicting hazardous weather phenomena such as ice, frost, and snowfall. Thanks to specialized forecasting modules, traffic operators receive timely updates on evolving local conditions, enabling them to plan interventions with precision.
It is important to noten that these systems are operational all year round. Outside the winter season, they continue to monitor other meteorological risks such as heavy rainfall, fog, strong winds, aquaplaning hazard, or localized road flooding. These technologies not only serve as responsive tools but also play a preventive role in ensuring road safety through proactive traffic management.
A standard evaluation phase is carried out at the end of each winter season. This includes an analysis of system reliability, forecast accuracy, and the climatic characteristics of winter conditions across regions. Based on long-term data series, processed in collaboration with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, we can confirm that the winter 2024/2025 was one of the mildest in Central Europe in the last 50 years.
Meteorology remains a dynamic field. For instance a cold front that swept across the country in mid-May 2025 brought snowfall and near-freezing temperatures — a strong reminder that atypical weather can still require full system readiness even in spring. Our predictive model alerted road authorities in advance, allowing for the activation of dynamic traffic signs and timely warnings about ice in critical areas.
Road weather monitoring systems and sensors remain fully operational during the summer months. As such, our dispatcher service also runs year-round — continuously, though in a reduced summer mode. When an early warning is issued, emergency vehicles can be deployed without delay. Every dispatcher decision is informed by real-time data and short-term, localized forecasts tailored to the specific conditions of each region.
May’s late snowfall did not result in significant operational disruptions. However, it reaffirmed the need for a robust and flexible road weather monitoring system — one capable of responding in real time to unexpected meteorological events.
When you know in advance, you can act with confidence.