Lightening in Parkland {Photo by Bill Kierl}
Upgraded lightning detection systems will soon be installed at five city parks.
Under a plan to replace the current Thor Guard electronic lighting prediction system, the cost for the new system is $26,800, according to Christine Garcia, Senior Director of Operational Services and Projects.
The city will replace the existing system with Perry Weather, which uses a platform that tracks on-site weather conditions in real-time and sends out instant alerts when the weather changes, according to the Perry Weather website.
“We’re very excited to be able to roll this out,” Garcia said during a May 6th Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting. “What’s really neat about this system is there are widgets that we’re going to be able to have on our website so our (sports) leagues will be able to go directly to that widget and see exactly which fields are closed — or if there are any delays in regards to weather.”
The Perry Weather system will be installed at Pine Trails Park, Terramar Park, Quigley Park, Liberty Park, and the Equestrian Center at Temple Park, said Felicia Trainor, assistant director of Parks and Recreation.
The current Thor Guard system uses relay horns to alert that dangerous weather is nearby. That system measures static electricity in the atmosphere and monitors how much energy is building and changing before lighting occurs, according to Thor Guard’s website. Nearly two dozen parks in Broward County use the system.
Perry Weather’s website notes that the Thor Guard system must be hardwired, limiting the placement of its hardware units. Perry Weather’s website also states that the Thor Guard system can fail in a storm if the electricity goes out unless there is [a] battery backup.
“We are transitioning from Thor Guard to Perry Weather due to significant advancements in lightning detection technology,” Traynor said. “While Thor Guard was a predictor of the possibility of lightning, Perry Weather provides lightning detection and is used by organizations like NASA, the US Military, and the FA.”
She added, “The safety of our residents is a priority, and Perry Weather uses a fully wireless hardware system powered by solar energy and cellular connectivity. Its software also enhances efficiency in receiving and responding to critical weather alerts. Our switch to Perry Weather reflects our commitment to leveraging the most advanced technology to safeguard our community effectively.”
No time frame has been set yet for the installation of the new lightning detection system.
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