The Australian Government’s Bureau of Meteorology released a correspondence about its installment of Lightning Bolt, a lightning detection network. It contains an explanation that they use lightning radars to monitor storms by looking at the intensity of the rain in their clouds. Storms unfortunately cause emotional distress, injury, and loss of life as the Climate Change Department of New South Wales reports. It further states that the long-term variation of average weather conditions makes the storms unpredictable. This prevents the government from knowing when they occur and how severe they are. It is why the Bureau of Meteorology upgraded its radars for a more resilient network. It displays high-resolution satellite images on its website that Australians may view to monitor any activity related to storms. Read further to find details on its usefulness and where to access them.
What are the Lightning Radars?
Lightning radars are devices that monitor the following storm-related activities.
- Cold fronts moving in from the west
- Lightning
- The intensity of the rain in the storms
The website of the Australian Government’s Bureau of Meteorology provides high-resolution images for these activities at 10-minute intervals.
What do Lightning Radars Provide to Australians?
BOM lists the following benefits of its recent lightning radars upgrades to the community and local industries.
- Tracks the strength and location of wind changes
- Improved quality of rain images
- Better predictions of severe storms
- Detection of weather systems such as tornadoes and heavy rains when there are storms
- Enhanced information on emergency services that better estimates fire-plume height and detects fire-generated thunderstorms
The agency is proud to state that its lightning radars increased its accuracy and reliability.
What Can Australians Manage with the Help of Lightning Radars?
If local governments and people are able to track storm activities through lightning radars, they may have a chance to prepare for it. A NSW website lists its possible effects such as emotional distress, injury, loss of life, and even damage to properties. Australians may have the time to do the following to help reduce the damage of a possible storm:
- Work on their storm plans
- Buy a first aid kit from CPR First Aid (RTO NO 21903)
- Ready their properties,
- Secure their pets
The Government of Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) listed the above to-do tasks when preparing for a storm on its website.
Where Can Australians Access the Captures of the Lightning Radars?
Australia’s Government’s Bureau of Meteorology has a lightning radar satellite viewer on its website and the following resources also provide updates on it.
- Farm Online Weather
- Weather Zone
- OZ Forecast
- Energex
Some of the above websites also have a mobile app that may help you easily use the tracker.
How Else Can Australians Prepare for Emergency Aside from Monitoring the Satellite Images of Lightning Radars?
Below is more detailed information about how the DFES recommends preparing for a storm.
- Creating a storm plan that has details about what everyone at home has to do and how to maintain your property
- Making an emergency kit available that has the important documents, first aid kit, toiletries, spare keys, and other important items
- Preparing your property by clearing gutters, making the necessary repairs, and securing your home insurance
- Checking with a local shire or council if there are animal welfare arrangements to help your pets and livestock stay safe during an emergency
Knowing how to respond to injuries, accidents, and health emergencies may also help minimise further complications. First aid training may give you the knowledge and skills of responding to emergencies properly.
What Can Australians Do If Lightning Radars Detect a Thunderstorm?
Australia’s Government’s Bureau of Meteorology lists the following safety tips during thunderstorms on its website.
- If there is a threat of thunderstorms
- Store outdoor items that may blow out in strong winds such as garden furniture and trampolines
- Secure external doors, windows, and draw curtains
- Park vehicles under a solid shelter
- During a thunderstorm
- Stay inside and shelter well
- Avoid using a fixed telephone or standing barefoot on tiled floors as it may cause lightning danger
- Keep monitoring weather and storm updates
- If you are outside during a thunderstorm
- Avoid driving into water flowing over roads
- Seek shelter in a hard-top vehicle or solid building
- Stay away from metal poles, fences, and clotheslines
- Avoid staying under small groups of trees
The government agency’s website has more information on how you may stay safe during severe weather events.
Conclusion
Lightning radars are devices that monitor storm activities which help the community and local industries become updated on weather changes. Knowing if there is a possibility to have storms may allow people to prepare for it and reduce the damage. Australians may visit the website of the Bureau of Meteorology and other resources to access the satellite viewer showing the captures of lightning radars. In doing so, the citizens may have a chance to prepare for storms if the forecast shows there is a chance for it to happen. People may also create a storm plan, have an emergency kit, ready their properties, and secure their pets to prepare for severe weather events.
