One of the most critical weather hazards to monitor for outdoor school events is lightning. It is a safety hazard for players, coaches, spectators, and staff. At least 270 people are injured by lightning in the United States on an annual basis, though this number is likely underreported.
Many guidelines are put into place in order to prevent injuries or deaths due to lightning. A few of the guidelines written by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) include:
- Assign staff to monitor local weather conditions before and during practices and contests.
- When thunder is heard or lightning is seen*, the leading edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Suspend play for at least 30 minutes and vacate the outdoor activity to the previously designated safer location immediately.
- 30-minute rule. Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or lightning is witnessed* prior to resuming play.
* – At night, under certain atmospheric conditions, lightning flashes may be seen from distant storms. In these cases, it may be safe to continue an event. If no thunder can be heard and the flashes are low on the horizon, the storm may not pose a threat. Independently verified lightning detection information would help eliminate any uncertainty.
The NFHS also mentions the recommendation of independently verified lightning detection, which is where Clarity Weather’s customizable lightning detection service can assist.
The Clarity platform has customizable lightning detection range rings and customizable alert options. Users can set different thresholds for when to get notified once lightning has reached a certain distance away. One ring can be set for a “warning” distance and the next ring can be set as a “danger” ring.
Clarity also has a countdown timer to let users know when their location is clear of lightning threats.
Aside from the lightning alerts feature, users are able to directly communicate with our meteorologists 24/7 via Clarity’s chat feature. With the chat feature, users can ask human meteorologists questions in real time, ensuring the safety of their event.
The IHSAA specifically references the NFHS recommendations in their Lightning & Thunder Safety notes on their official website. Numerous school systems across Indiana are already utilizing Clarity’s lightning detection including Brownstown Central High School, Seymour Community Schools and Kokomo High School.
For more information about how Clarity can assist schools and school districts with lightning detection, safety and preparedness, schedule a meeting with our team at BAMWX.com/book-a-demo/.