Anyone else's pool cracking down on "lightning" -- making people get out of the water at the slightest hint?

[Anonymous]

“Lightning can travel 10 to 12 miles from a thunderstorm. This is often farther than the sound of
thunder travels. That means that if you can hear thunder you are close enough to a storm to be in
danger of being struck by lightning.”
https://www.weather.gov/media/ilm/Lightning_NWSILM.pdf

They have regulations they need to follow whether it’s an inconvenience or not. Risk it in your own pool with your own kids.

[Anonymous]

My town pool did this in the 80s. It’s called safety.

[Anonymous]

It's not the rule that is causing the annoyance but the overabundance of thunderstorms this year. Every single freaking day. It is too much.

[Anonymous]

Our pool has changed from 30 minutes to 45 minutes for the sound of thunder.

We only use it for swim team, since we have our own pool but it makes evening meets annoying to plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually think the thunder is crazier. If thunder is detected, the water closes for 30 minutes. This Saturday, thunder was detected from 20 miles away while it was sunny and hot. The storm did eventually arrive… 2.5 hours later. Insane.

A rule is a rule. If your kid gets electrocuted, you're going to wish the rules were followed. The storms of late have been quite unpredictable. I'm surprised anyone is complaining about this.

This. And give the lifeguards grace—they are 16-22 years young most times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not the rule that is causing the annoyance but the overabundance of thunderstorms this year. Every single freaking day. It is too much.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Lightning can travel 10 to 12 miles from a thunderstorm. This is often farther than the sound of
thunder travels. That means that if you can hear thunder you are close enough to a storm to be in
danger of being struck by lightning.”
https://www.weather.gov/media/ilm/Lightning_NWSILM.pdf

They have regulations they need to follow whether it’s an inconvenience or not. Risk it in your own pool with your own kids.

+1. The ignorance on this thread is something else. It doesn’t matter if you find it “inconvenient.” There are reasons these rules are in place, and it’s nothing remotely new (except the fancy detection systems, and even they aren’t THAT new).

[Anonymous]

I’m deeply suspicious of things like this. I don’t think my pool does it (yet?) as I only receive closing notification emails when it actually starts raining/storming. But a lot of amusement parks have started it - closing all or at least the largest rides when there’s even a hint of a threat of a thunderstorm miles away - and leaving the rides closed for 30 minutes - 1 hour+. And I feel like it helps them with the ever present staffing issues. Oops we have to close this coaster because “storms,” now we can move their ride team to another ride or use them to cover breaks or just send them home early and not have to pay them. Maybe all the guests should just leave early too, attendance is not so high mid week. Oh but all the overpriced food and souvenirs stands are open even though many of the vendors stand out in the open so feel free to spend your money on the way out too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm torn on it--they're using some automatic system, so no one can argue. On the one hand, lightning is real and dangerous. on the other hand, it's closing a lot.

Won't crack down on nasty swimwear, will crack down on weather. :smdh:

Every year thousands of men and elder women die from heart attacks triggered by buxom young women in red bikinis.

The nation must act!

[Anonymous]

I do think the radius should be smaller, like within 5 miles. But lightening 10 miles away is not a threat. If it happens within 5 miles, ok then, lets clear the pool.

I do think having it automated is a good idea. You don't want the 16 year old lifeguard making these choices, it's a huge liability if something did go wrong.

I would like to see how often people are struck by lightning in general though, and then how many of those cases happened at a pool. I'd say zero?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Lightning can travel 10 to 12 miles from a thunderstorm. This is often farther than the sound of
thunder travels. That means that if you can hear thunder you are close enough to a storm to be in
danger of being struck by lightning.”
https://www.weather.gov/media/ilm/Lightning_NWSILM.pdf

They have regulations they need to follow whether it’s an inconvenience or not. Risk it in your own pool with your own kids.

+1 I grew up in the lightning capital of the US and we did not f*ck around with this. A body of water is the last place you want to be. And lightning can strike far in advance of a storm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our pool, the teen lifeguards have a long history of pretending to hear thunder so that they can shut down early. No one else will hear ANY thunder and some 16 year old will yell "Thunder" so she can get paid but go home thirty minutes early.

This is our pool too. When we switched from all teens managed by a pool board member to a management company it didn't really change, either. The mixture of neighborhood teens and guards the company bring in still love to close as much as possible.

But it's fine. I'd rather that than the other extreme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm torn on it--they're using some automatic system, so no one can argue. On the one hand, lightning is real and dangerous. on the other hand, it's closing a lot.

Won't crack down on nasty swimwear, will crack down on weather. :smdh:

You think it's weird that your pool management cares more about keeping people alive than about policing women's clothing?

[Anonymous]

I was at my parents’ midwestern country club a few weeks ago when a storm came through. I could hear the not-so distant thunder and was shocked that the pool remained open as I, in my conditioned state, exited the pool upon the first rumble.

The thunder/lightning call at this pool is made exclusively by the golf pro. Instead, the lifeguards had a loud conversation that any other pool would be closed and that they would recommend we all leave the pool deck area.

The golf pro sounded the alarm three mins later, which was no more than five mins after I exited the pool.

All to say, the time difference is slight between a conservative thunder/lightning call and a quick call. (For how long the pool is closed after that call is another issue.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm torn on it--they're using some automatic system, so no one can argue. On the one hand, lightning is real and dangerous. on the other hand, it's closing a lot.

Won't crack down on nasty swimwear, will crack down on weather. :smdh:

You think it's weird that your pool management cares more about keeping people alive than about policing women's clothing?

This jumped out at me, too. I can’t believe you’re the first person to mention it.