All of the parks in Forsyth County are now equipped with a weather-sensing device that will help predict lightning during inclement weather.
The Thor Guard Weather Warning System predicts lightning strikes.
"When lightning is in the area - 12 miles is the limits to it - it picks up static in the air and sky before lightning storms and when we have lightning within two and a half to three miles, it will sound an alarm and a strobe light," said Tommy Bruce, Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Deputy Director.
Bruce said the system will especially help the youth and other sports teams that play at the parks.
"Especially when we're having games with umpires, some umpires when they hear thunder, they'll get kids off the field. Some will let them play, try to let them finish an inning or something," said Bruce. "This way, when it goes off... everyone has to do the same thing. It gets all the kids off and the adults out of there at one time."
The devices are installed at the athletic facilities and at Sawnee Nature Preserve. When the threat is over, the system will alarm three, five-second blasts and the strobe will turn off. The alarms will only go off between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
After the first Thor Guard was installed at Sharon Springs Park a few years ago, the rest of the parks began following suit to add the weather alert system. Over the last few months, the system was installed at Bennett Park, Central Park, Coal Mountain Park, Fowler Park, Midway Park, Sawnee Mountain Park and Sawnee Mountain Preserve. The system was already in place at Joint Venture Park at Daves Creek, Lanierland Park, Matt Community Park at Settingdown Creek before the initiative took place.
The installation of the Thor Guard was funded by capital project funds approved in the 2017 budget.
