Implications Involving the Issuance of Public Lightning
Advisories for Florida
David W. Sharp
National Weather Service - 421 Croton Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935
david.sharp@noaa.gov TEL (407) 255-0212 FAX (407) 255-0791
In recent years, advancements in mesoscale concepts and
associated technologies have greatly improved the anticipation and
detection of severe convective storms over Florida. Adhering to
traditional definitions regarding life-threatening thunderstorms, the
greatest threat to life is from strong and violent tornadoes with a
seasonal peak in the late winter and early spring. However, statistics
have shown that for any given year in Florida more casualties are
typically realized from lightning strikes than from tornadoes (except
during significant tornado outbreak years) with a seasonal peak during
the summer months. Except for lightning education and preparedness
efforts, very little has been done to operationally address the threat of
lightning to the public at large.
In an attempt to satisfy the agency mission towards the protection
of life and property, the National Weather Service in Melbourne, FL (NWS
MLB) has instituted a total lightning information (TLI) initiative. At the
heart of this initiative is the real-time access to both cloud-to-ground
(CG) strike data (through the National Lightning and Detection Network)
and 3-D volumetric total signal data (through the Lightning Detection
and Ranging (LDAR) network located at the Kennedy Space Center).
During the summer of 1997, NWS MLB began intently including lightning
information into public products. Climatological, statistical, and safety
information was included in the morning Hazardous Weather Outlook
(HWO) product according to the current synoptic and mesoscale weather
pattern. The HWO is intended for planning purposes and was used to
describe the geographical distribution and timing of the onset and
ending of deadly CG lightning strikes. Particular attention was given to
lightning sensitive situations where large numbers of people were
expected to be outdoors away from ready cover. This would include the
central Florida attractions, the beaches (such as Daytona Beach and
Cocoa Beach), major golf courses, and the marine community.
As each convective event unfolded, lightning information was
routinely included in the Nowcast product. LDAR information was used
to detect early signs of electrical activity aloft over generalized areas
before actual CG strikes occurred. The term "lightning storm" was used
when the predominate threat was considered to be lightning (and not
tornadoes, damaging wind, or large hail). Preliminary quantitative
descriptor definitions of CG discharge frequency were used to include
"excessive", "frequent" and "occasional". By the end of the season, a
somewhat awkward but promising success was achieved. In November
1997, the NWS Southern Region legitimized the MLB initiative by
endorsing project ELISE (Enhanced Lightning Information and Services
Experiment). This project put forth five specific lightning-related
objectives among which were the inclusion of lightning information in
public products as well as the issuance of experimental public lightning
advisories for individual counties. This paper will address the resultant
implications of the NWS MLB initiative and subsequent implications as
experienced during ELISE when issuing such advisories.