Lightning Strike warning.
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2024 10:47 am
Yes, we had a direct strike! ARRL insurance is good!
But how get timely warning? Seems that there are two ways, favorite websites and devices. Here are my favorites:
Websites: Top of the list, the "horse's mouth' for world wide strike mapping, consulted by many weather services round the world, https://blitzortung.org . Configure it for your location and preferences and it will remember next time you connect. Next, the local TV services give much general and detailed weather web pages of notifications for your area. Many have convenient smartphone apps too.
Devices: Lightning detectors mostly work by the radio noise put out by a nearby strike. I own the Acurite 02020 Portable Lightning Detector https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-02020-Po ... B00EO1H3X8. It works as advertized, usually, with a maximum range of 25 miles. It seems to work best to warn of approaching storms with many strikes. A few strikes (see blitzortung) are single, and often well away from the nearest storm. The device seems to detect these, but if by bad luck they are too near, detection is not a warning. That's the one that got us!
Is this the best device? For us, yes; it's the only one we have! Anyone own another one?
Maybe there'll be another post about lighting protection and mitigation... Yes, you could post it!
But how get timely warning? Seems that there are two ways, favorite websites and devices. Here are my favorites:
Websites: Top of the list, the "horse's mouth' for world wide strike mapping, consulted by many weather services round the world, https://blitzortung.org . Configure it for your location and preferences and it will remember next time you connect. Next, the local TV services give much general and detailed weather web pages of notifications for your area. Many have convenient smartphone apps too.
Devices: Lightning detectors mostly work by the radio noise put out by a nearby strike. I own the Acurite 02020 Portable Lightning Detector https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-02020-Po ... B00EO1H3X8. It works as advertized, usually, with a maximum range of 25 miles. It seems to work best to warn of approaching storms with many strikes. A few strikes (see blitzortung) are single, and often well away from the nearest storm. The device seems to detect these, but if by bad luck they are too near, detection is not a warning. That's the one that got us!
Is this the best device? For us, yes; it's the only one we have! Anyone own another one?
Maybe there'll be another post about lighting protection and mitigation... Yes, you could post it!
