Lightening

[waltjp]

We do the same as Bassman - if we see lightning or hear thunder we clear the field for 30 minutes. It's a joint responsibility and is usually something we mention during our pre-game if the conditions warrant.

[Bassman]

Originally Posted by waltjp

We do the same as Bassman - if we see lightning or hear thunder we clear the field for 30 minutes. It's a joint responsibility and is usually something we mention during our pre-game if the conditions warrant.

One thing I have that helps me is I have a CB radio with a WX frequency, so if the conditions are iffy at best, I'll switch this on to get the NOAA weather channel en route to my game.

[waltjp]

One of the worst nights I had with lightning was a few years back. It was an 8:00 start on July 3. The weather report called for a chance of thunder showers. A few of the surrounding towns had fireworks displays and with the haze from the humidity in the lights it was difficult to discern what was approaching lightning and what was the flash from fireworks. It was near impossible to listen for lightning because of the boom from the fireworks and the highway that passed by the field.

[Forest Ump]

I grew up in Georgia where we had some wicked lighting storms. When I was a kid, we had lighting hit our house and completely blow out my exterior bedroom wall. This happened while I was in bed at the time. So I have a real respect for lighting. Might also explain why I don't hear so good now.

I live in California now and it is a rarity to see it here in the San Francisco Bay area. I don’t even remember it being discussed at my association meetings. If I did see it I would use the 30/30 rule that Garth mentioned unless we have a different policy.

[rpumpire]

To me, one of the toughest calls is in games being played under the lights. After dark, one can see flashes (not bolts) from storms much farther away. It becomes harder to discern whether it is from a nearby storm or not.

I do have a great respect for lightning. About three years ago, my partner and I cleared the field during a thunderstorm. Most people took shelter in the vehicles, or in the entryway of a nearby establishment that overlooks the field. Not five minutes later, we saw a bolt of lightning strike the field in foul territory just beyond third base.

[DonInKansas]

I usually call for lightening when it's too dark to see the ball well.

[archangel]

If the poster is correct on how they handle weather games up north, plus other sich's given in other posts, I think its in our northern neighbors best interest if we just attack and make Canada a US state.

A 10 minute delay? Lightning is seen but its not BU's call? I'm always amazed........

[ozzy6900]

Our HS association says that any of the umpires on the game can stop the game due dangerous conditions. Lightning sighted is an automatic 20 minute delay. If another bolt is sighted, the clock starts from the time of the sighting. Upon the first sighting, we are to inform the coaches that we are suspending the game and how it will work. We then inform them that we are going to shelter or out cars and suggest that they do the same. We then leave the field together.

I also check the weather before I leave home. If there are impending storms, I will check the radar on my cell phone just before my partner(s) and I lock up the cars. If something is coming, I inform the coaches when we get to the field and ask them to help us keep an eye out.

Now I still get arguments about daytime storms from coaches. "Yeah Blue, we heard the thunder but we didn't see any lightning so why are we stopping the game?" Even after I explain that lightning is what generates thunder and it's just too bright to see the lightning yet, they still ask "why are we stopping the game?"

[mcrowder]

1) if you see a BOLT, it's close enough to stop things. Period. (Heat lightning is something different, and the 30 second rule is good for that ... as stated above, 30 seconds is about 5 miles, and lightning can travel laterally for about that distance)
2) 10 minutes is DEFINITELY not long enough. 20 around here is the standard (25 in football, and no, I don't know why the difference). 30 to be safe is prudent.
3) BU has EQUAL responsibility to PU regarding stopping a game for lightning. PU has authority over whether you're waiting or packing it up ... but EITHER umpire should stop things - no one has 360 degree sight.
4) If Partner Deathwish doesn't want to get off the field, refer him to the article(s) on the Jr. High football team here in Texas 2 years ago that didn't leave the field when they saw lightning. Lightning struck the FIELD (not even a player), but killed several and injured many many more.

[johnSandlin]

In Michigan, we recieved a memo from the state athletic association about lightning and thunder and how to handle them when they occur.

They said lightning is lightning and thunder is thunder. We have to stop the game for 30 minutes and wait. We must be lightning and thunder free during that 30 minutes or we have to keep resetting the 30 minutes each time either or is observed.

All of my supervisors have stated follow the policy or you will not be working for them anymore period.

[azscump9]

There is no such thing as heat lightning. It's lightning to far a way to hear the thunder as light travels faster than sound. Lightning can strike up to 30 miles away from the center of a storm. If lightning is seen, get the heck off the field. I had a Dixie Pre majors State Tourney gameback in 93 that I stopped because I saw lightning but heard no thunder. The Tournament Director tried to make me get the teams back on the field as he deemed it "heat lightning." I stood my ground and within 10 minutes we were in the midst of a micro burststorm along with a tornado warning. My Rule of thumb is I see lightning I get off the field. Better to be safe than sorry

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

1) if you see a BOLT, it's close enough to stop things. Period. (Heat lightning is something different,

No it's not. There is no such thing as "heat lightning." What you mistakenly refer to as "heat lightning" is nothing but bolts of lightning hidden behind the clouds. What you see is the reflection of the light from such bolts. They are no less dangerous than bolts that are visible.

Do people realize how far lightning can travel? Case in point: Several years ago in an American Legion level game on a bright, sunny day, a second baseman in a north Chicago suburb was struck and killed by a lightning bolt that came from a cumulonimbus cloud 17 miles away. There were no clouds over or near the ball park. This lone thunderhead generated the lightning that killed this young man and seriously injured his friend, the first baseman.