MLB weather rules

[Altor]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

If I used 30 seconds flash to bang, I'd lose my registration. Around here, they teach "if you can see it or hear it, it can kill you."

My wife tells me I don't hear well anyways, but I suspect I'd have trouble hearing thunder that was caused by a lightning flash that was over 30 seconds away at Mach 1.

Just last weekend, I was at an amusement park with my daughter when a storm was approaching. I tried the "count to 30" method. By around the low 20s, I got bored and decide I wasn't going to hear it. When I did eventually hear it, it was very faint. But, it wasn't 5 minutes later that the storm was right on top of us.

I think this is why more and more associations are going to the "if you can hear it, it's too close" model. Unless you happen to be looking at it when it flashes from that distance, you won't know when to start counting. Since most officials are concentrating on other duties, we aren't able to look at the sky too. And if the thunder is loud enough that you notice it while you are performing your other duties, it's time to seek shelter.

[DavidOhsie]

Might be of interest: NOAA Coach’s and Sports Official’s Guide to Lightning Safety

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/grr/educatio...CoachGuide.pdf

Says to stop activity on any thunder for at least 30 minutes from last thunder. No 30 second rule.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by Altor

My wife tells me I don't hear well anyways, but I suspect I'd have trouble hearing thunder that was caused by a lightning flash that was over 30 seconds away at Mach 1.

Just last weekend, I was at an amusement park with my daughter when a storm was approaching. I tried the "count to 30" method. By around the low 20s, I got bored and decide I wasn't going to hear it. When I did eventually hear it, it was very faint. But, it wasn't 5 minutes later that the storm was right on top of us.

I think this is why more and more associations are going to the "if you can hear it, it's too close" model. Unless you happen to be looking at it when it flashes from that distance, you won't know when to start counting. Since most officials are concentrating on other duties, we aren't able to look at the sky too. And if the thunder is loud enough that you notice it while you are performing your other duties, it's time to seek shelter.

The 30 second "flash-bang" gives you about 6 mile protection. The "hear thunder" gives you about 10. The "see it" should be used with a grain of salt at night because lightning can be seen a long way away at night.

[Altor]

Originally Posted by umpjim

The "hear thunder" gives you about 10.

And I guess my point was that I find it unlikely that I will hear thunder while I'm officiating if it's not within the 6 miles of the 30-second flash-to-bang. I could barely hear it on Saturday and I was actively listening for it. If I had other things I was watching/listening for, I doubt I'd notice it.

[RadioBlue]

Originally Posted by umpjim

The 30 second "flash-bang" gives you about 6 mile protection. The "hear thunder" gives you about 10. The "see it" should be used with a grain of salt at night because lightning can be seen a long way away at night.

I was working a tournament one time where we delayed a last inning for 5 hours because of a strict "if you can see it, we're not playing" policy. The "lightning" that could be seen was reflections of lightning flashes in the 50,000 foot cloud tops of a cell that, after 5 hours, was over 200 miles away. However, an unrelenting policy kept us off the field until we could resume the national championship game at 12:05 am. Ugh!