Travel Advisory System - Outlooks, Watches, & Warnings

Our Travel Advisory System is the local adaptation of the IDHS Travel Advisory System.

This system consists of 3 levels. These levels provide residents of Allen County with accurate and actionable information. This allows individual residents and local business owners to make smart decisions about their travel during inclement winter weather.

Travel Advisory Chart

Indiana uses a standardized tool for assessing winter weather travel conditions.

We issue an advisory when conditions are changing, e.g., ice forming on bridge decks or road surfaces, vehicles drifting across roadways, snow beginning to accumulate

A watch communicates hazardous conditions occurring, e.g., accumulating snow with forecast for more, significant icing, some roadways impassable due to drifting or timing of the snow

Both the advisory and the watch are recommendations only. They alert you to potentially hazardous conditions.

We only issue a warning when local resources are completely overwhelmed, or travel would significantly threaten the personal safety of our residents. We won't issue a warning until the Allen County Commissioners declare a local disaster. During a warning, the Commissioners may restrict travel to emergency management workers. Only under a warning could persons violating travel restrictions be subject to a class B misdemeanor per I.C. 10-14-3-34.

Outlook - hours to days in advance

• Check plan of action
• Make sure shelter is ready

Watch - minutes to hours in advance

• Monitor weather conditions
• Stay tuned to TV / Radio

Warning - event is threatening now

• Take shelter