NIU installs new lightning detection system
for protection during outdoor events

A new real-time lightning detection system is now in place at Huskie Stadium to protect students, faculty, staff and visitors when thunderstorms approach the university.

Increasing demand on outdoor facilities, such as Huskie Stadium and other outdoor venues, prompted NIU Athletics to purchase the system over the summer.

The need for advanced warning systems is critical, said NIU staff meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste. “NIU Weather gets imagery from the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), owned and operated by Vaisala, Inc., every four minutes, and that imagery is seen by NIU Athletics,” he said.

“However, there are restrictions on how we may use and broadcast the data. Furthermore, the lightning strike data is delayed a few minutes, and is updated only every four to six minutes. Thus, there may be several minutes after an unseen strike happens before I know about it,” Sebenste added. “That can mean the difference between evacuating tens of thousands of people to safety in a stadium largely consisting of steel – or not.”

From early spring to late autumn, the NIU lightning detection system will stand duty 24 hours a day, watching for dangerous conditions as they approach the area. The data can be viewed directly at: http://lightning.admin.niu.edu.

In addition to the instantaneous receipt of the information, the new lightning sensor has an even bigger advantage, Sebenste said.

“This sensor detects intra-cloud lightning, which frequently occurs in developing thunderstorms. They are a precursor to the deadly cloud-to-ground strikes, and they are not detected by the NLDN,” he said. “During the daytime, this lightning can go unseen by the naked eye, completely hidden by clouds. This can give us an additional one to 20 minutes of warning, and when the safety of our students, staff, faculty and guests are concerned, every minute of warning is critical.”

After the system was tested and worked on over the summer, it was deemed ready for operational use. Now, even more advantages to the system become obvious.

“First, we can redistribute the imagery without restriction to the world via the Internet. Anyone with a computer and a network connection can see instantly if there are thunderstorms around our campus,” Sebenste said. “But, since it has an effective range of over 200 miles, it not only covers our DeKalb campus, but all of our satellite campuses as well. So, faculty at our Rockford, Lorado Taft, Hoffman Estates, Naperville and other off-campus sites can log on and see if any of their outdoor plans are going to be disrupted by thunderstorms. Doppler radar can tell you if it is raining, but it can't tell you if a shower is producing lightning.”

Phil Voorhis, head athletic trainer for the NIU Huskies, praises the purchase.

“We need the best possible information to make decisions concerning the safety of our outdoor events. This will allow us to protect our students, staff and guests when threatening weather heads our way,” Voorhis said. “This tool does not just benefit the athletics department, but the university and local community. It will allow those making decisions about outdoor events to make informed decisions.”

10-18-04