Will the Highway Be Closed Due to Rain?

[Joanna]

Under normal rainy conditions, highways are not closed unless there are extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain or dense fog. In such cases, temporary closures are usually implemented to prevent accidents. Below are some precautions for driving on highways during rain: Ensure Clear Visibility: Before starting the car, the driver should ensure good visibility. The rearview mirrors can easily get wet in the rain, which may blur the driver's vision. It is essential to wipe them dry so that the driver can clearly observe the movement of vehicles behind and react quickly. Check Vehicle Brakes: Before driving, the vehicle's brakes should be checked promptly to prevent accidents caused by brake failure due to water ingress. Avoid Sudden Braking in Puddles: When passing through puddles, reduce speed to avoid splashing water onto the windshield, which can blur the driver's vision. Do not slam on the brakes to avoid puddles on the highway; instead, maintain the vehicle's direction of movement without significant changes. Use Headlights for Signaling: On highways during rain, use high beams and low beams to signal other vehicles, using light signals to indicate the distance between vehicles.

[KatherineLynn]

I drive on highways quite often and encounter rainy days frequently. Generally, light rain won't lead to highway closures, but heavy rain might result in temporary shutdowns. Especially on days when the rain is so heavy that you can't see the car in front of you, or when continuous downpours cause severe waterlogging on the road, the highway management authorities will assess safety risks. If the road is deeply flooded, making it easy for wheels to skid or lose control, or if there are sections prone to mudslides or landslides, they will decisively close those sections. It's advisable to check the weather forecast and highway conditions before heading out. Navigation apps on your phone usually provide real-time alerts about road closures. Safety comes first—if a highway is closed, consider taking national roads or resting nearby.

[CollinLee]

The closure of highways is primarily considered for safety reasons. Light to moderate rain generally doesn't affect traffic, but in cases of short-term heavy rainfall where the downpour is so intense that windshield wipers can't keep up, reducing visibility to less than 50 meters ahead, it becomes extremely dangerous. I've witnessed such situations several times, where chain-reaction collisions are particularly prone to occur on highways. Another scenario is after continuous heavy rain, when water accumulation on the road exceeds 10 cm in depth, significantly increasing the risk of vehicles skidding, or when landslide warnings are issued for mountainous sections. Traffic management departments typically close certain sections of the highway once rainfall reaches red alert levels. Therefore, if you plan to drive on the highway during a heavy rainstorm, it's advisable to call the highway service hotline in advance to inquire about the latest road conditions.

[Jayce]

Highway closure standards vary across regions. In rainy southern areas, authorities have more detailed emergency plans. Light rain generally doesn't lead to closures, but when it reaches storm level or is accompanied by strong thunderstorms and high winds with poor visibility, closures may occur. Some mountainous expressway sections are particularly prone to closures due to flash floods. Many areas now have real-time monitoring systems that automatically trigger traffic controls when rainfall reaches certain thresholds. Drivers are advised to listen to traffic radio broadcasts, as electronic road signs will also provide warnings. If you're in a real hurry, taking national highways as detours might be a safer option.