Lightning Guidelines for the Sports Complex

When Thunder Roars

Blue Valley Recreation contracts with Weather OR Not, the premier 24-hour source for up-to-date and detailed weather information for our specific area, when deciding whether to call outdoor activities for lightning.

We also use multiple lightning detection and radar systems centered on our sports complex. We will stop all play when lightning strikes are detected within 10 miles of the Sports Complex.

The ability to see lightning varies depending on the time of day, weather conditions and obstructions such as trees and buildings. In clear air, and especially at night, lightning can be seen from more than 10 miles away provided that obstructions don’t limit the view of the thunderstorm.

When do we stop play?
* Any time we have a lightning strike within 10 miles of the sports complex all play will stop play immediately.

* If there is visual lightning (that does not appear on our lightning detection systems) in the distance the on call staff member will contact “Weather OR Not” in an attempt to determine how close the lightning is to our complex. If lightning is determined by staff to be within 10 miles of the complex, play will be stopped.

* All play will stop when a thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued for the area.

 

When will play be restarted?
* Play will be restarted 15 minutes after the last lightning strike within 10 miles of the sports complex.

* All warnings for the area have been cleared.

** Any time a coach wants to pull his/her team from the field or a parent his/her child from the field, due to inclement weather, we will not prevent them from doing so and there will be no action taken against that coach or parent.

Cancellations of games and practices can be found on our Inclement Weather page.