Lightning Strikes and Youth Sport Teams - Early Warning System

A few weeks ago I wrote about workers' compensation injuries caused by lightning strikes. Since then I've had someone point out a lightning alert system by Anything Weather (www.anythingweather.com) that provides text message alerts in three different distances from where you designate.

• Lightning Detected: Lightning strikes between 20 to 30 miles
  (user definable distance)
• Lightning Alert: Lightning strikes between 10 to 20 miles away
  (again, user definable range)
• Lightning Warning!: Sent when lightning strikes closer than 10 miles to your specified location.
  (once again, this is a completely customizable distance)

This lightning system relies on the United States Precision Lightning Network (USPLN) with accuracy of 250 meters or better. This service is another option for youth sport leagues and organized sport leagues in grade, middle and high schools to protect children while participating in outdoor activities. The cost is $35.00 per month or $420.00 per year.

The USPLN provides weather products and services for businesses needing warnings about weather. I know very little about this system and cannot vouch for its reliability, but as a former soccer coach and a dad with three boys that played both soccer and baseball lightning was always a worry.

The USPLN states the device provides coverage within almost any size area from a 25-mile radius to virtually worldwide.

Coverage Area

Real- and near real-time data can be delivered for almost any size area, from 25-mile radius areas to complete regional coverages, such as the US, Canada, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, etc. Lightning Verification Reports utilizing archival USPLN data are available for a 1 to 15-mile radius coverage. Larger archival data sets can be generated to full CONUS coverage. The Global Lightning Network provides lightning coverage outside of North America.

I'm not so sure I understand the data set being sent, but am told this is the raw data and not what the system sends to your cell phone. A new launch is underway so you can expect an update in the new future.

Example 1-minute update text data:

2008-10-31T16:51:45.104,14.1817109,-79.385623,-23.8,0.25,0.25,72
2008-10-31T16:51:45.189,14.1789189,-79.3666115,-23.0,0.25,0.25,72
2008-10-31T16:51:45.445,14.1836477,-79.3486379,-20.8,0.5,0.25,31
2008-10-31T16:51:45.680,36.4215321,-93.4645816,-11.8,0.5,0.25,-79
2008-10-31T16:51:45.695,36.4334455,-93.5041441,-16.7,0.5,0.25,-78
2008-10-31T16:51:53.199,37.5621416,-92.6588922,0.0,0.5,0.25,-21