Case Study: Florida State University achieves proactive lightning safety and fewer false event suspensions with AccuWeather For Business (SkyGuard)

Exceeding Expectations at Florida State University

Florida State University needed a world-class way to protect athletes, fans, and staff from frequent Florida lightning, so FSU turned to AccuWeather For Business and its SkyGaurd® lightning warning service to replace hand-held detectors and visual observations.

AccuWeather For Business’s SkyGaurd issued a campus warning on March 15, 2005 at 6:25 p.m. (valid 6:30–7:15 p.m.), while FSU’s hand‑held detectors did not alarm; lightning began within the university’s 10‑mile safety threshold at 6:45 p.m. The SkyGaurd deployment delivered accurate, proactive notifications that improved on-site safety, avoided scrambling during a “bolt from the blue,” and helped prevent unnecessary event suspensions.

Florida State University

Rhonda Kelly

Assistant Athletic Trainer