or download a fillable Word document to create a draft lightning safety plan. It’s available at the link that follows.
https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-toolkits
Public venues and those organizations that want to register their commitment can fill out the appropriate toolkit in concert with their local Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM). After completing the draft plan, they email it to the local National Weather Service (NWS) office for review. Upon NWS approval, the organization can then be recognized for having a written plan for lightning safety and be listed on NOAA’s website as a lightning safety site.
Te Lightning Safety Toolkit program is an important component of NOAA's commitment to a Weather-Ready Nation. It’s an excellent resource to provide the format for developing a comprehensive lightning safety plan specifically for any business. Sod producers and other businesses that have multiple crews working outside onsite and offsite (such as delivery drivers or installation crews) can establish the basic protocols for lightning safety. Once developed, they can use that as the base to develop guidelines for action in other weather emergencies such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or fires.
Te Lightning Safety Toolkit recommends that companies use multiple sources along with the NWS to track lightning alerts and that is recommended for other weather hazards as well. Local broadcast media is one suggested source, with radio and television stations often including digital links to their information. Two additional resources to consider are WeatherBug and AccuWeather.
WeatherBug
WeatherBug Professional, based in New York City, provides comprehensive worldwide weather monitoring, lightning detection, and severe weather prediction (https://
www.weatherbug.com). Te WeatherBug Total Lightning System (WTLS) is a standalone, fully integrated in- cloud (IC) and cloud-to-ground (GC) lightning detection system. It enables advanced severe weather prediction and forecasting along with improved lead times for alerts and warnings for comprehensive weather management planning. Combined with advanced analytics and display capabilities, WTLS meets the needs of weather-sensitive users and industries worldwide including regional and national governments, utilities, public safety, and aviation.
At the grassroots level (pun intended), WeatherBug provides a mobile app reporting live and forecast data on hyperlocal weather as a service to consumer users. Te free app can be installed on any computer, tablet, or smartphone. Spark is a component of the WeatherBug app that reports where the nearest lightning strike is to the user based on data from the Total Lightning Network (run by WeatherBug's former owner, Earth Networks)
44
and the device’s enabled GPS location. In addition, the app provides risk alerts for severe storms, hurricanes, fires, and more. Weather information is available for current conditions, hourly forecasts, and ten-day forecasts.
A typical lightning bolt carries around 300 million volts and 30,000 amps of electricity. Photo courtesy of AccuWeather
AccuWeather
AccuWeather is a global leader in weather forecasting, warnings, data, and information. With global headquarters in State College, PA, and other offices around the world, AccuWeather serves more than 1.5 billion people daily to help them plan their lives and get more out of their day through radio, television, newspapers, smartphones, tablets, connected TVs, the AccuWeather Network and
AccuWeather.com. Additionally, AccuWeather produces and distributes news, weather content, and video for more than 180,000 third-party websites. For the latest news and updates visit
AccuWeather.com.
In a January 13, 2025, press release, AccuWeather announced the acquisition of TOA Systems, Inc.'s lightning network and technology. Te new AccuWeather Lightning Network™ will enhance global lightning detection capabilities by combining AccuWeather's proven Superior Accuracy™ in weather forecasting with TOA’s state-of-the-art hardware network. Te integration will create a comprehensive global lightning detection network to deliver superior value to businesses, governments, and the public, helping them better manage risks and better understand the impact of lightning. AccuWeather’s actionable insights enable the best decisions with real- time lightning data, SkyGuard® warnings for lightning, lightning reports, and historical lightning data.
Te new global lightning detection network will be integrated into AccuWeather’s suite of digital platforms, including
AccuWeather.com and mobile apps, making it easily accessible to users. Te AccuWeather Lightning Network will also provide real-time lightning alerts, detailed risk analysis, and safety recommendations tailored to specific locations designed for enterprise and business clients.
Suz Trusty is co-editor of Turf News. TPI Turf News March/April 2025
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
