NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center

Sectoral Engagement Fact Sheet

TRANSPORTATION

Overview Transportation by trains, aircraft, automobiles, trucks, ferries, barges, ships, 

and pipelines is a fundamental component of the U.S. economy. Adverse and 

extreme weather events and climate change and 

variations can affect these systems and have significant 

impacts on society. Adverse weather conditions such 

as storms, icing, high winds, and poor visibility have 

immediate effects on day-to-day operations, often 

disrupting large portions of a transportation network. 

Extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, 

hurricanes, and tornadoes also have immediate effects, 

disrupting transportation and creating large clean-up 

and rebuilding costs. Expected climate change and 

variations, such as increasing temperatures, a growing 

number of droughts and floods, more intense hurricanes 

and precipitation events, and rising sea level, have longterm impacts on all aspects of transportation. In order to 

develop appropriate planning, response, and adaptation 

strategies, it is important to have information on how 

weather and climate trends affect the various modes 

of transportation.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) 

works with various groups, both as an information provider 

and as an applied research partner, to examine the effects 

of weather and climate on transportation. This type of information can help engineers and decision makers within the 

transportation sector make practical decisions in order to 

adapt to climate changes and extreme weather conditions and to mitigate possible effects. 

There are many different governmental and non-governmental organizations, public and 

private groups and businesses, and individuals that can benefit from using pertinent climate 

and weather-related information. Some major groups include:

•	 National and international governmental transportation agencies and authorities

•	 Federal, regional, state, and local governmental transportation authorities

•	 Commercial passenger carrier operations, such as air, rail, road, and maritime

•	 Commercial operations, such as interstate trucking companies, express delivery, and 

energy companies

•	 Storage, transfer, and warehousing enterprises

•	 Transportation planning and research organizations 

S ECTOR NEEDS Climate information is often available only as raw observations or in the form of tables, 

graphs, or written summaries, which may be difficult for users who are not well-versed in climate 

science to fully interpret. To bridge this gap, NCDC is partnering with the transportation sector 

to translate climate data into accessible, useful, and accurate products; and to leverage NCDC’s 

climate expertise to better understand what the information means and how it can be used most effectively. 
Climate information can be used in a variety of ways. Some examples include:

•	 Using precipitation and visibility data to determine how often traffic-slowing weather 

conditions occur in different locations.

•	 Using climate data related to frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme climate 

events, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, to plan for potential storm impacts and to 

assess potential adaptation and/or mitigation strategies.

•	 Using average and extreme temperature and precipitation information to plan for 

road construction. 

•	 Using precipitation intensity and frequency probabilities to plan for stormwater 

drainage systems.

•	 Using tide gauge data to evaluate local sea-level rise and its potential impacts on 

transportation in low-lying coastal regions and on maritime traffic under bridges.

NCDC Data and Products There are many different types of useful climate information available. Some

examples include: 

•	 Wind Rose tabulations, which provide statistical summaries of wind speed versus 

wind direction from hourly data, produced in cooperation with the Federal Aviation

Administration.

•	 The U.S. and North American Drought Monitor, which synthesizes products of 

multiple indices and impacts, representing a consensus of federal and academic 

scientists.

•	 The Integrated Surface Data database, which contains climate information for about 

10,000 weather stations, with some dating as far back as 1901.

•	 Publications, including Local Climatological Data (provides a monthly 

summary of daily observations), Climatological Data (provides annual 

average values), and Comparative Climatic Data (provides average and 

extreme values). 

Collaboration between climate scientists and the transportation community is essential in helping to build the necessary bridges that 

will transform climate data into information that is relevant and credible. 

Ongoing communication is important to ensure that the information NCDC 

provides is appropriate and applicable to transportation sector needs. 

As climate changes in the years ahead and the effects become more 

noticeable, new information needs will emerge. NCDC will work closely 

with this sector, attending trade meetings and sponsoring future workshops 

and conferences, in order to better understand, address, and anticipate 

these needs.

NOAA Satellite and Information Service

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)

National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

U.S. Department of Commerce

Additional details about available NOAA products and the economic benefits of these products are provided at:

http://www.economics.noaa.gov

For further information on obtaining NCDC climate services and products related to transportation please contact:

Agriculture ▪ Civil Infrastructure ▪ Coastal Hazards ▪ Energy ▪ Health ▪ Insurance

Litigation ▪ Marine and Coastal Ecosystems ▪ National Security ▪ Tourism ▪ TRANSPORTATION ▪ Water Resources

Customer Services Branch

NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center

151 Patton Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801-5001 U.S.A. 

828-271-4800 • TDD 828-271-4010 

Fax 828-271-4876

E-mail: ncdc.orders@noaa.gov

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov

June 2010