Event-day lightning watch

Goal: keep people safe at a fixed outdoor venue by polling lightning proximity and issuing clear continue / suspend / shelter / resume calls using standard lightning-safety thresholds.

Reminder: this supports an on-site safety officer; it does not replace one. The venue's emergency plan and official warnings take precedence.

Inputs you need

• Venue — lat, lon (CONUS).
• Event window — start/end local time.
• Poll interval — every 5–10 minutes during the window (lightning evolves fast).

Standard thresholds (apply these consistently)

• ≤ 10 km from the venue → SHELTER NOW (strikes essentially overhead; 30-30 rule).
• ≤ 16 km (~10 mi) → SUSPEND outdoor activity, move toward shelter.
• > 16 km but present / approaching → HEIGHTENED WATCH, ready to suspend.
• Resume only 30 minutes after the last strike within 16 km.

Procedure

1. Pre-event baseline. get_threat_brief(lat, lon)

• Note the overall threat_level, the attention_window, and any

lightning_summary. If the brief is already elevated+ for storms/lightning, brief the safety officer before doors open.

1. Poll during the event. Every 5–10 min:

get_lightning(lat, lon, radius_km=16, minutes=15)

• Read data.flash_count, data.flashes_per_min, and

data.nearest_strike.distance_km / time_utc.

• Apply the thresholds above to set the current call.
• Track the last strike time within 16 km to drive the 30-minute resume clock.

1. Escalation check. If lightning appears or the flash rate climbs, also run

get_threat_brief(lat, lon) to see whether severe weather (not just lightning) is developing — hail/wind/tornado may warrant evacuation beyond a lightning hold.

1. Resume. When get_lightning shows no strikes within 16 km for a continuous

30 minutes, clear the suspension.

Output template (per poll)

[<time_utc>] Lightning watch — <venue>
Nearest strike: <dist> km <dir> at <time_utc>  (flashes <n>, <rate>/min within 16 km)
CALL: <CONTINUE | HEIGHTENED WATCH | SUSPEND | SHELTER NOW | CLEARED>
Resume eligible at: <last-strike-time + 30 min, or "n/a">
Notes: <e.g. "rate increasing, cell approaching from SW">