Colorado State University ThorGuard Lightning Prediction System Procedures
In July 2004 Colorado State University, the University Safety Committee and Environmental Health Services
partnered with five departments (Athletics, Campus Recreation, Conference Services, Facilities
Management, and Health and Exercise Science) to purchase the Thor Guard Lightning Prediction and
Warning System for a majority of Main Campus (Intramural Fields, Jack Christensen Track, and
University Tennis Courts).
While the system is not infallible, and common sense should still be followed, the system will
be an important tool for enhancing safety of University sanctioned activities involving students,
employees and visitors. All of the partners are confident that this system (if its warnings
are responsibly heeded) will substantially reduce the chances of a lightning related tragedy
occurring at these sites.
The ThorGuard system installed consists of a “Base Station” (Sensor) and Transmitter located at
the Student Recreation Center with 2 remote horn assemblies (Jack Christensen Track and the
University Tennis Courts). The sensor constantly monitors atmospheric conditions within a 2-mile
radius of the sensor that can cause lightning and sends a signal to the horn assemblies when a
danger threshold is passed. The horn assemblies then sound a “red alert” alarm (a strobe light
on the assembly begins intermittently flashing, and one - 15 second long blast from the horns
is sounded in all directions that can be heard approximately 700 yards away) to warn people at
the sites to seek appropriate shelter for the duration of the red alert period. All outdoor
activities must cease during red alert periods to protect all users of these sites. Appropriate
shelter includes surrounding buildings, automobiles/trucks, and when one of those is not
available - dense woods or low-lying areas. However, if the conditions appear unsafe and a red
alert alarm has not sounded common sense should be your guide and activities should still cease
despite the absence of a ThorGuard warning.
When the ThorGuard sensor detects that the danger has passed (a minimum of 10 minutes after the
original alarm) it will send the all-clear signal to the horn assemblies (the strobe light will
stop flashing at all and three separate - 5 second long blasts from the horns will sound). After
the all-clear signal is sounded it is safe, according to the ThorGuard system, to resume outdoor
activities. However common sense should still govern, and if the conditions do not appear to be
safe to resume activity it is best to wait until the weather circumstances change regardless
of an all clear from ThorGuard.
Due to the unpredictability of weather patterns it may be possible for the “red alert” to sound
multiple times within an hour, or even sound when there appears to be no danger (i.e. clear
skies). While stopping and restarting athletic activities due to ThorGuard warnings may result
in some frustration, and even anger, it is important to remember that the ThorGuard system’s
warnings must be heeded at all times. The potential risk to people is too great to ignore and
the consequences of an accident too severe. It is worth noting that many of the lightning deaths
and injuries that occur each year are from the first lightning strike from an incoming storm or
come from the rear of a storm that appears to have passed through an area. The chance of these
types of tragedies can be minimized by using the Thor Guard system, which relies on readings of
atmospheric conditions not visible to the human eye.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the Thor Guard system please email
at Ken.Quintana@ColoState.Edu or call (970) 491-4749. ** Please note that the Thor Guard system’s
horns and strobe lights will be tested the first Tuesday of every month at about 9:00 AM