Lightning postpones Wildcats-Huskies

COLUMBUS JUNCTION - The sun was out over the baseball field as the junior varsity played. The softball field faced south west and an umpire saw a dash of lightning Monday before the varsity contest between Columbus and Highland high schools.

The weather was beautiful with the temperature in the high 70's. No rain ever fell, but the contest was postponed to Friday at Columbus at 5 p.m.

'We as coaches have some say about postponing or canceling a game,” Columbus coach Katie Coil said after the decsion was made to play Friday. 'What the umpires told me tonight is they thought the storm was just going to sit here above us. Every time they see a lightning strike, it's another 30-minute delay. Both of us coaches agreed we didn't want to wait and wait and not end up starting until 9 p.m. We decided to reschedule.”

There are several issues regarding how the decision to delay is made according to the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

Prior to the start of any game, the host school administration is responsible for monitoring weather. Once the game is in progress, the umpires are responsible for delaying due to thunder and/or lightning. If thunder is heard or sky to ground lightning is observed, the field is to be cleared and a school's inclement weather plan for teams, fans and workers should be followed.

A 30-minute delay is mandatory after each lightning strike. During this delay, schools are encouraged to take time to gather more information via websites and the National Weather Service. Software is available that helps indicate the distance of the lightning strike and movement of the storm. Some umpires are equipped with hygrometers, which are lightning detectors.

Ideally, coaches should not serve as the site administrator. Umpires also appreciate help from site administrators on incoming weather, advance notices, etc. It is not always possible to hear distant thunder in the middle of a game. Unfortunately, Tuesday's game never got underway. Fortunately, the state does not take chances with safety.

Anytime lightning can be seen or thunder can be heard, the edge of the storm is close enough to pose a risk.

IGHSAU guidelines state that, ideally, the persons responsible for determining whether to suspend competition be school administartion and not coaches, who have many other responsibilities as a contest is about to begin. Once a game starts, it falls to the umpires to make the call.

According to the National Weather Service, lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year.

Although most lightning occurs in the summer, people can be struck at any time of year.

Lightning kills an average of 47 people in the United States each year, and hundreds more are severely injured.

Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the center of the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or thunderstorm cloud. 'Bolts from the blue” can strike 10-15 miles from the thunderstorm. Though very rare, lightning is capable of striking even greater distances from the main thunderstorm.

A typical lightning strike may be anywhere from 20 million to 1 billion volts with an approximate temperature of 8,000°C.

Given the variation in distance that lightning may travel and the deadly force with which it strikes, the importance of keeping athletes and spectators safe through education and appropriate event planning cannot be understated.