Many agencies use storm severity indexes and winter severity indexes to make comparisons between storms and across multiple winter seasons. But developing an effective severity index can be challenging due to the multitude of variables involved and the availability and quality of data.
To help agencies find the right fit, a recent Clear Roads research project created a step-by-step guide to implementing a severity index and a flowchart tool that helps match users with existing indexes. Both tools help states assess the most feasible option: using or modifying an existing severity index or developing a new custom index.
Download the final report and appendices: Evaluation of SSI and WSI Variables, December 2020.
Image source: Utah DOT.